When EFCC fashioned as weapon against Tambuwal’s 2027 politics failed to prosper

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

“I remain that person that believes in democracy, rule of law and good governance and no one, no agency can intimidate me to abandon that course.”

Due to his growing influence as a major political actor in and as the ongoing opposition coalition against more more grounds across the country especially in Sokoto State with one and strong vow that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be returned as president during the 2027 general elections, Dr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was recently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in what is believed to be an effort to find a means of taming his reignited popularity.

Tambuwal is the immediate past Governor of Sokoto State and sitting Senator representing Sokoto South in the current National Assembly.

His increasing influence within the opposition coalition has drawn the attention of the ruling government, leading to significant political tension.

He was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) amid allegations of a staggering N189 billion fraud during his tenure as governor and his detention, which lasted one night, is viewed by many as an attempt by the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to undermine Tambuwal’s growing popularity as an opposition leader.

The arrest is also believed to be part of Tinubu’s allegedly unholy strategy and desperate move finding any ugly past of an opposition political gladiator to hook-wink, weaken and coerce Tambuwal into joining the train of captives working, wittingly or unwittingly, for his second term despite nationwide outcry over poor and bad governance that has inflicted unprecedented poverty level and hunger on Nigerians.

Dr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, by the strategic arrest that instead of weakening his political stronghold rather made it stronger, has re-emerged as a prominent figure in the Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly in the context of the upcoming 2027 presidential elections.

His increasing influence within the opposition coalition, which has drawn the attention of the ruling government to the move it made with the anti-graft agency leading to significant political tension, has therefore been better tagged as the EFCC fashioned as political weapon against the former governor but failed to prosper.

The DEFENDER reports that the EFCC had quizzed Tambuwal and detained him for a night over alleged N189 billion fraud. He was later released on administrative bail after the vibrant lawyer educated the Commission’s agents on why he needed no surety of any sort as a former Speaker of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives, former two-term Governor of a state of the country and currently a siting senator to be released on bail.

The undaunted Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, unmindful of the politically motivated EFCC arrest, has vowed not to be silenced by such unfortunate attitude of the Tinubu’s government he described as intimidation and blackmail.

Tambuwal, who returned to Sokoto on Thursday August 14, 2025 to warmth reception of a mammoth crowd of people cutting across thousands of his supporters and natural lovers in the Seat of Caliphate, spoke at his Gamunoma area residence, pledging to continue the fight for “equitable and democratic governance” in Sokoto State and Nigeria in general.

He said, “I cannot be intimidated or blackmailed. I believe I shall be vindicated, and victory shall be ours,” he declared, drawing loud chants of solidarity from his supporters.

Like allegedly done to a former Governor of Delta State, Senator Sylvester Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said to be the reason behind the sudden defection of sitting Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the EFCC said it was probing Tambuwal over alleged misappropriation of N189 billion during his tenure as governor.

But the opposition African Democratic Congress described the timing of the investigation as a political witch-hunt aimed at weakening opposition forces ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Recounting his encounter with the EFCC, Tambuwal said he honoured the agency’s invitation on August 6 but was denied release on personal recognition, despite his credentials as a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, two-term governor, and serving senator.

“They insisted I must provide two top civil servants as sureties. My request was turned down. Despite being accompanied by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, I was remanded in Cell N23,” he said.

The former governor accused the Sokoto State government of orchestrating a “Kangaroo investigative committee” against him, stressing that no competent authority had found him guilty of any wrongdoing.

Tambuwal’s defiant stance comes amid heightened political tensions in Sokoto, where he has become a rallying figure for opposition forces positioning for future political battles.

In his further comments in a media interview, the former governor, who described economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as harsh, said his politically motivated arrest by the EFCC will not “deter me from being, remaining in the course that I believe is for the good of this country.”

Continuing he said, “This is not the first time in my own case. How did I become the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the first place? I was even teargased as Speaker, all in effort to make sure that the right thing is done. The vice president (Kashim Shettima) said it two weeks ago. President Jonathan wanted to remove me, I stood my ground.

“I remain that person that believes in democracy, rule of law and good governance and no one, no agency can intimidate me to abandon that course.”

Tambuwal, however, gave it to the EFCC officials as he commended their professionalism during the time he spent with them, noting that he is not opposed to political leaders being called to account.

But he frowned at what he termed the use of EFCC as a political tool. “And I’m not just doing it for myself. I believe that what is going on in this country is not right. And that was why I left APC in 2018 August even as a state governor from North West where President Muhammadu Buhari of blessed memory was from. If I had wanted to remain in APC to seek for second term, I could have done so. But I left.”

Although the anti-graft agency is yet to file formal charges against the former governor, he believes he is a leading figure of the opposition coalition and expressed confidence that the group is well prepared to unseat the APC in the 2027 polls.