Principal Partner, Liberty Semper Fidelis LP, SenatorTokunbo Afikuyomi, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court and seek the discharge of the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government, describing the move as a commitment to electoral fairness within constitutional limits.In a press statement issued on Thursday, Afikuyomi, a longtime associate of President Tinubu and former Senate Deputy Minority Whip in the 4th and 5th National Assembly, said the President’s decision demonstrated an appreciation of the constitutional principle that elections “must not only be free and fair but must also be seen to be so.”He noted that while the intervention deserved commendation, constitutional governance required that even well-intentioned objectives be pursued through constitutionally appropriate means.According to him, the EFCC is a statutory body whose investigative and prosecutorial functions are exercised pursuant to law, while the order freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts remains a judicial order made by a court of competent jurisdiction.Afikuyomi stated that by directing the anti-graft agency to return to court, rather than pursue an extra-judicial resolution, the President ensured that the matter remained before the judiciary, where the Constitution requires it to be resolved.The lawyer also stressed the importance of the separation of powers and the independence of institutions, saying these principles are strengthened when every arm of government performs its constitutional responsibilities while respecting the authority of others.He urged that the President’s concern for protecting the credibility of the forthcoming Osun governorship election should continue to be reflected in respect for the operational independence of investigative agencies and the constitutional authority of the courts.Afikuyomi further called on institutions and stakeholders involved in the governorship election -including the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), election observers, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving as ad hoc electoral officials, transport and logistics providers, universities, political parties, candidates, the media and the judiciary – to draw inspiration from what he described as the President’s “unequivocal commitment” to protecting the democratic process.He said the intervention was consistent with President Tinubu’s democratic credentials and should serve as a reminder that safeguarding the integrity of elections is a shared constitutional responsibility.Afikuyomi said the elections must reflect the freely expressed will of the Nigerian people, insisting that “free and fair elections are not negotiable,” and that “every public institution, politician and citizen has a duty to uphold democracy and the rule of law. History will ultimately judge not merely the outcome of elections but whether those entrusted with public authority discharged their responsibilities with fidelity to democracy and the rule of law.”
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