Politics

The Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress in Plateau State, on Thursday, traded words following the arrest of 15 former lawmakers, including ex-Speaker, Moses Thomas Sule, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The PUNCH reports that the anti-graft agency, on June 17, 2025, apprehended the former legislators who are currently serving as liaison officers to Governor Caleb Mutfwang in their various constituencies, over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office. The EFCC specifically accused them of violating the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and procurement irregularities. Other arrested former lawmakers are Gwottson Fom, Sani Abubakar, Philip Gwom, Timothy Dantong, Happiness Mathew Akawu, Cornelius Dotyok, Agbalak Ibrahim, Danjuma Azi, Fwangje Bala Ndat, Salome Tanimu Wanglet, Namba Rimuyat, Nimchak Rims, Ishaku Maren and Paul Datugun. In a statement on Thursday, the PDP condemned the arrests, alleging that they were orchestrated by APC leaders in the state for political gain. In the statement signed by PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Amande, the party described the action as a “political witch hunt” aimed at suppressing opposition voices ahead of the 2027 election and undermining the current PDP administration in the state. The statement read “The Peoples Democratic Party wakes up to a disturbing trend of the arrest of the former speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and 14 others, orchestrated by some leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state for cheap political gains. “These party leaders are wielding anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as a tool to target and intimidate members of the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections. “As a party, we condemn in the strongest terms the parading of our members like common thieves, an action we consider purely politically motivated and aimed at undermining the PDP administration and the party’s influence in the state. “This use of the EFCC as a political witch-hunt designed to stifle dissent and suppress opposition voices in the country will do more harm than good, especially since the PDP administration has focused on moving Plateau State forward rather than hunting the last APC administration in the state, despite the numerous messes discovered under their eight years of tenure.” The statement reaffirmed PDP’s commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law while encouraging citizens to remain vigilant against any attempts to manipulate state institutions for partisan purposes. “We want to reiterate our call for transparency and accountability in governance. “The misuse of institutions like the EFCC threatens the democratic process and the fundamental human rights of citizens. “The PDP remains committed to opposing any actions that undermine the tenets of democracy in Nigeria,” the statement added. The State APC Chairman, Rufus Bature, denied any involvement of his party in the arrests, stating that the allegations were “a figment of the PDP’s imagination.” He said the EFCC was doing its routine work, adding that the APC had no hand in the matter. “The allegations against us by the PDP over the arrest of the former lawmakers are a figment of their imagination. Nobody has ever discussed anything about the former members of the state House of Assembly. “As a party, we have never sat down to discuss it not to talk of going to the EFCC. “As far as APC in Plateau State is concerned, we don’t know anything about their arrest. EFCC is doing its routine work and we cannot interfere with their job,” he said. Source: Punch