APC Vows No Immunity for Members as Anti-Graft War Intensifies

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a stern rebuttal to the long-standing narrative that the ruling party serves as a sanctuary for politically exposed persons seeking to evade the reach of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a decisive move to protect the integrity of the President Bola Tinubu administration, the party’s National Vice Chairman for the North-East, Mustapha Salihu, declared on Saturday night that the APC is not a “refuge” for the corrupt. He emphasized that the party remains fully prepared to see its own members jailed if they are found guilty of misappropriating public funds, asserting that the “broom” used as the party’s symbol will also be used to sweep out internal rot.

Speaking to a group of journalists in Yola, Salihu addressed the growing criticism surrounding the recent wave of defections from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Critics, most notably former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, have recently characterized the APC as a “haven for fugitives” who join the ruling party specifically to “wash away” their sins. Salihu dismissed these claims as a calculated attempt to blackmail the President and discredit the government’s zero-tolerance stance on graft. He argued that joining the APC does not provide a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, noting that several party chieftains have already been forced into plea bargains and the return of stolen assets under the current dispensation.

The Vice Chairman’s comments come at a time of significant political realignment, as the PDP faces internal fractures that have driven many of its governors and lawmakers toward the APC. Salihu insisted that these defections are driven by patriotism and a desire to align with the “Renewed Hope” agenda, rather than a fear of prosecution. He challenged opposition figures and civil society critics to move beyond “propaganda” and provide concrete evidence of wrongdoing. “If anyone has credible information against any APC chieftain, let them submit it. The party will not shield anyone,” he stated, urging citizens to file formal petitions with the anti-graft agencies rather than complaining on social media.

This internal push for accountability is seen as a strategic move to sanitize the party’s image ahead of the 2027 general elections. Salihu accused opposition leaders of weaponizing anti-corruption narratives to gain an unearned advantage, insisting that the EFCC remains an independent body capable of carrying out its mandate regardless of a suspect’s political affiliation. By publicly inviting the prosecution of “guilty” APC members, the party is attempting to shift the burden of proof back onto its detractors, while simultaneously signaling to its newest members that their defection does not grant them legal indemnity.

As the political atmosphere in Nigeria becomes increasingly charged, the APC’s stance serves as a warning to both old and new members that the era of using party membership as a shield is over. Salihu reiterated that corruption is the primary architect of the nation’s economic woes and that the Tinubu administration is committed to a “scorched-earth” policy against financial crimes. Whether this rhetoric translates into high-profile convictions of ruling party members remains to be seen, but for now, the APC is making it clear: the law will take its course, even if it leads to the very gates of the party’s national secretariat.