No Secret Meeting Between Our Chairman and Defecting Politicians, Says EFCC 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vehemently denied claims made by Paul Ibe, spokesperson to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, that its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, held a clandestine meeting with a serving governor and his predecessor from the South-South region before they defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Ibe, the alleged meeting took place at a government lodge in the South-South state, 48 hours prior to the governors’ defection. However, he failed to disclose the names of the governors involved.

In a swift response, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale described the allegations as baseless and unfounded, stating that Olukoyede is committed to maintaining a neutral stance in politics. Oyewale emphasized that the EFCC chairman has consistently reiterated the agency’s opposition to partisan biases.

The controversy surrounds the recent defection of governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who made the switch in April. Additionally, the governor of Akwa Ibom has expressed intentions to join the APC from the PDP.