The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State clashed on Thursday, June 19, over the arrest of 15 former state lawmakers by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee.
The EFCC had, on June 17, 2025, detained the previous legislators, together with ex-Speaker Moses Thomas Sule, over allegations of cash laundering and abuse of workplace.
The company accused them of breaching the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and fascinating in procurement fraud.
All 15 now function liaison officers to Governor Caleb Mutfwang throughout their respective constituencies.
Others arrested embrace 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 press release issued on Thursday, the PDP condemned the arrests, accusing the APC of utilizing the EFCC to settle political scores forward of the 2027 common election.
“The Peoples Democratic Party wakes as much as a disturbing development of the arrest of the previous speaker of the Plateau State Home of Meeting and 14 others, orchestrated by some leaders of the All Progressives Congress within the state for affordable political good points,” the get together stated in a press release signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Amande.
“These get together leaders are wielding anti-graft businesses such because the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee as a instrument to focus on and intimidate members of the PDP forward of the 2027 elections.
“As a celebration, we condemn within the strongest phrases the parading of our members like widespread thieves, an motion we take into account purely politically motivated and geared toward undermining the PDP administration and the get together’s affect within the state.
READ ALSO: EFCC Arrests Ex-Plateau Speaker, 14 Others for Alleged Cash Laundering
“This use of the EFCC as a political witch-hunt designed to stifle dissent and suppress opposition voices within the nation will do extra hurt than good, particularly because the PDP administration has centered on shifting Plateau State ahead slightly than searching the final APC administration within the state, regardless of the quite a few messes found beneath their eight years of tenure.”
The PDP additionally reaffirmed its dedication to democratic values, calling on residents to withstand the manipulation of public establishments.
“We wish to reiterate our name for transparency and accountability in governance.
“The misuse of establishments just like the EFCC threatens the democratic course of and the elemental human rights of residents.
“The PDP stays dedicated to opposing any actions that undermine the tenets of democracy in Nigeria,” the assertion added.
However the APC in Plateau pushed again strongly. The get together’s state chairman, Rufus Bature, dismissed the allegations, saying they have been baseless.
“The allegations in opposition to us by the PDP over the arrest of the previous lawmakers are a figment of their creativeness. No one has ever mentioned something in regards to the former members of the state Home of Meeting.
“As a celebration, we have now by no means sat down to debate it to not speak of going to the EFCC.
“So far as APC in Plateau State is worried, we don’t know something about their arrest. EFCC is doing its routine work and we can not intrude with their job,” he stated.
