By Abigail David

The Osun State Government says it will challenge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court after alleging that the anti-graft agency froze the state’s bank accounts.

The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, said on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to file a suit at the Federal High Court over the development.

According to Jimi-Bada, the EFCC issued a “Post No Debit” directive to First Bank, where the state’s accounts are domiciled. He argued that while the commission has the power to investigate financial records, freezing government accounts requires a court order.

He said the action could disrupt government operations but expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved through the courts. Jimi-Bada also maintained that state funds were not being used to finance Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign.

The Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, also alleged that police officers visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some bank employees. He urged the EFCC to consider the potential impact of the account restrictions on governance and residents.

Earlier on Wednesday, Governor Adeleke alleged that the EFCC was planning to freeze the state’s accounts and those of top government officials ahead of the August 15 governorship election. He described the reported move as unlawful and claimed it was intended to disrupt government activities before the poll.

The EFCC had not publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of this report.

By Abigail David

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to present the achievements of his administration to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Momodu said the President’s performance in office should be the primary basis for seeking another term.

According to him, Nigerians will assess the administration’s record when deciding how to vote in the next election.

“The 2027 election will not be difficult for Tinubu if he can show the records of his performance. It is about performance. Present your scorecards,” Momodu said.

He also criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party has continued to blame previous administrations for the country’s challenges. Momodu questioned what measures the current administration had taken to address inherited problems and improve the lives of Nigerians.

During the interview, the publisher of Ovation magazine also commented on the relationship between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Reacting to Obasanjo’s recent remarks that choosing Atiku as his vice president was his “greatest mistake,” Momodu alleged that the former president does not support Atiku’s presidential ambition.

Momodu’s comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election continue to gather momentum, with parties and prospective candidates positioning themselves for the contest.

The political contest ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election appears to be taking shape, with President Bola Tinubu and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) offering contrasting visions of what should dominate public discourse ahead of the polls.

Within 24 hours, remarks by President Tinubu and a swift response from the ADC shifted attention beyond electoral politics to broader questions of governance, security and leadership.

Speaking during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House, President Tinubu stressed his determination to seek re-election and defend his administration’s record.

“I asked for this job. I’m in it. Those who will take it from me will try, I won’t give them a red carpet. We wrestle each other to the finishing point,” the President said.

Tinubu also defended the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dismissing concerns over the electoral process and expressing confidence in the commission’s ability to conduct credible elections.

The President highlighted what he described as improvements in governance, including greater stability in Nigeria’s university system with fewer disruptions from prolonged strikes. While acknowledging ongoing security challenges, he maintained that many of the country’s difficulties were inherited from previous administrations.

During the meeting, the Catholic bishops raised issues including insecurity, poverty, electoral credibility, higher education and the return of mission schools. Tinubu responded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to national unity, education and ongoing reforms.

However, the ADC criticised the President’s remarks, arguing that national security should remain the government’s foremost priority.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party urged the President to focus on addressing insecurity rather than political competition.

“The fight Nigerians elected you to lead is not against the opposition. It is against terrorists, kidnappers and armed criminals,” Abdullahi said.

The party linked its criticism to reports of a deadly attack on Naridon village in Kaduna State, where several people were reportedly killed by gunmen, arguing that such incidents underscore the need for greater attention to security.

ADC further contended that the 2027 election should be viewed as an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the government’s performance in protecting lives and addressing insecurity.

The exchange reflects an emerging political divide over the issues likely to shape the next presidential election.

While President Tinubu has framed the election around continuity, institutional stability and resilience in the face of inherited challenges, the ADC is seeking to place security and public safety at the centre of national political debate.

Political observers say the differing approaches suggest that governance, security and economic performance are likely to feature prominently as parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.