The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the North-East, Mustapha Salihu, has rejected claims that politicians who defect to the ruling party are protected from corruption probes by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Salihu made the assertion on Saturday night while addressing journalists at his private residence in Yola, Adamawa State.
According to the APC chieftain, the belief that party membership guarantees protection from prosecution is a deliberate attempt to discredit the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He insisted that the president has zero tolerance for corruption and would not interfere with the work of anti-graft agencies.
“The notion that anyone can escape prosecution simply by joining APC is designed to blackmail this administration. This government has zero tolerance for corruption,” Salihu said.
Salihu’s remarks come barely two months after a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, accused the APC of becoming a safe haven for politicians fleeing from the EFCC.
“It is my belief that more patriots will soon join us even as the PDP self-destructs and the APC becomes a haven for EFCC fugitives,” Babachir had said.
Babachir further described the ruling party as “delusional,” alleging that its strategy for the 2027 general elections was to manipulate outcomes.
“This is pure delusion because it will not happen. Nigerians will back us to frustrate any criminal manipulation of the 2027 election results,” he added.
Responding to the allegation, Salihu urged Nigerians with credible evidence against any APC member to submit formal petitions, assuring that the party would not hesitate to act.
“Anyone with information on any APC chieftain involved in corruption should write a petition. We will investigate, and if found guilty, such a person will be prosecuted,” he said.
He revealed that some APC leaders were already returning stolen funds as part of ongoing investigations.
“A lot of APC chieftains have done free bargain and they are returning money. Anyone that stole public funds will be prosecuted, even if you join APC, because corruption killed the economy of this country,” Salihu added.
Tracing the origin of the party, Salihu said the APC was initially formed as a coalition to wrest power from former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We succeeded, and Jonathan was sent out of power. After that, people with a one-party ideology of policy-seeking coalition stayed on one side, while political pirates or buccaneers stayed on the other side,” he said.
According to him, while the power-seeking elements eventually left the party, the policy-driven majority remained to build the nation.
“The power-seeking coalition is no longer in APC because they could not get what they wanted. For the majority of us, we were policy-seeking, so we remain to build the country,” he added.
Salihu also took a swipe at the African Democratic Congress, predicting that the party would not survive beyond the 2027 general elections.
“ADC is a power-seeking coalition, so it will not last. About 80 per cent of those who joined or fused into ADC are presidential candidates,” he said.
According to him, internal rivalry and lack of compromise would soon tear the party apart.
“They already have a Messianic attitude. Nobody will step down or support another candidate. It is winners-take-all. Once their ambition does not materialise, they will move to another party,” he added.
On speculations that Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri might defect to the APC, Salihu said such political negotiations are not conducted in the public space.
“Political discussions are not done on television or in newspapers.
“Our job in APC is to woo everyone into the party. I will be happy if Fintiri joins APC today. It is criminal and undemocratic to stop anyone from joining a group of their choice,” Salihu stated.
He, however, added, “If he comes to APC, good. If he does not, I will wish him well. But I will not wish him good luck.”
