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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to promptly release former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

At a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Timothy Osadolor, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, issued the call.

Agents from the anti-corruption agency have verified the arrest of Okowa, who was the PDP vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.

The EFCC reported that Okowa was taken into custody when he arrived at their Port Harcourt office.

remembers that the ex-governor of Delta was apprehended for supposedly misappropriating N1.3 trillion from the 13 percent derivation funds allocated to the state while he was in office.

Osadolor characterized Okowa’s detention by the EFCC as political witch-hunting and persecution, suggesting it is a tactic to silence opposition parties, which he argued harms democracy.

He mentioned that Okowa had been working without incident until Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, began criticizing government policies.

It’s surprising that a man who voluntarily went to the EFCC office ended up being detained and remains in custody.

“The man was not attempting to evade arrest. As a global figure, he is being associated with exaggerated allegations that are untrue.”

The Delta state government has not reported any missing funds.

The EFCC is acting both as a litigant and a prosecutor, while also bringing an allegedly ongoing investigation into the media spotlight.

“The development poses significant danger and we need to denounce it,” he stated.

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Osadolor mentioned that several former governors and leaders of the ruling party faced allegations of financial mismanagement, yet they continue to walk freely.

What distinguishes the situation involving Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, if not simply political maneuvering?

Okowa should be released, and the public trials and humiliation of opposition leaders must come to an end.

“We should be aware that there seems to be a pattern; following Okowa’s arrest, the EFCC might target Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo next week.”

This is a strategy aimed at the nation’s opposition leaders.

“We believe that political office leaders should be held accountable, but this process must remain free from political bias,” he stated.

Osadolor urged the anti-graft agency to regard itself not as an arm of the ruling party or presidency, but rather as a neutral and independent entity dedicated to investigating financial crimes.

We are also advocating for a complete revision of the EFCC Act to ensure that no president, regardless of their power, can appoint directors for the commission.

Allow the judiciary or the Senate to appoint the chairman and board members of EFCC.

“It needs to be taken out of the presidency’s exclusive control,” he stated.

AFP