The Presidency has dismissed concerns raised by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and other opposition leaders, describing their claims as an attempt to revive failed political careers.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency accused opposition figures of seeking scapegoats for their political shortcomings and trying to mislead Nigerians with what it called baseless allegations.

The response followed a joint statement by a coalition of opposition leaders, including former Senate President David Mark, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Chief Bode George, Mallam Lawal Batagawara and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. The group alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was politicising anti-corruption and security agencies to persecute opposition figures and weaken multi-party democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The opposition leaders specifically accused agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of engaging in selective justice.

However, the Presidency rejected the claims, insisting that politicians defecting to the APC were doing so voluntarily and not under pressure. According to the statement, the wave of defections reflects confidence in President Tinubu’s reform agenda rather than coercion.

The Presidency also denied allegations that the administration was weaponising the EFCC against political opponents, stressing that the anti-graft agency is independent and operates within its statutory mandate.

“President Tinubu does not issue directives to any anti-corruption agency on whom to investigate, arrest or prosecute. Those with cases before the EFCC should defend themselves if they are confident of their innocence," the statement read.

Onanuga further noted that some of the opposition figures raising the alarm had previously been investigated or prosecuted by the EFCC before Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while others had allegedly been linked to international money-laundering probes.

The Presidency warned opposition politicians against undermining national institutions and trivialising the fight against corruption with what it described as politicised narratives, insisting that no one is above the law regardless of political affiliation.