By Osaretin Osadebamwen
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate for 2027, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called for the immediate resignation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his direct intervention in the Osun State account freeze controversy.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Adebayo strongly rejected public demands for the resignation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, insisting that accountability for the constitutional breach lies entirely at the doorstep of the President.
Addressing judicial independence and law enforcement mandates, Adebayo argued that the EFCC operated within its legal powers when it secured a court order to freeze the Osun State accounts.
He cautioned against scapegoating heads of anti-graft agencies, stressing that operating an investigative body in a politically charged environment is a difficult duty.
In his assessment, the EFCC Chairman should not be penalized or ousted for simply executing court-sanctioned orders in the line of duty.
Directing his critique toward the presidency, the SDP leader declared that the fundamental breakdown of governance originated from executive overreach.
“The person who should resign is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I don’t have enough evidence to suggest that the EFCC chairman should resign. The only person who is at fault here is the President himself,” Adebayo stated, emphasizing that senior leaders must take responsibility rather than deflecting blame to subordinate agency heads.
Dissecting the legal implications, Adebayo characterized President Tinubu’s public directive instructing the EFCC to unfreeze the state’s accounts as an unconstitutional intrusion into independent judicial processes.
He noted that such direct executive interference compromises law enforcement operations, undermines the rule of law, and constitutes an impeachable offense under Nigerian law.
The opposition leader emphasized that legal and institutional avenues exist to handle disputes over state finances. If the Osun State Government believed its statutory accounts were wrongfully targeted, the proper course of action was through the court system via the State Attorney General—not through informal presidential pronouncements or political interventions.
Reaffirming his commitment to institutional governance, Adebayo clarified that his position is rooted in protecting democratic frameworks rather than shielding law enforcement from legitimate oversight. He recalled instances where the SDP challenged law enforcement actions through judicial means, reiterating that statutory bodies must be held accountable through the courts rather than subjected to arbitrary executive interference.
Closing the press briefing, Adebayo criticized the broader governance style of the current administration, citing inconsistent policy decisions and systemic breaches of constitutional protocol.
He urged citizens and political stakeholders to focus on institutional integrity ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that allowing the executive branch to bypass statutory processes sets a dangerous precedent for the nation’s democracy.
