The National Chairman of the Accord Party, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, on Friday, called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the anti-graft commission’s controversial decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s bank accounts.

The party also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent election while urging security agencies to remain neutral throughout the electoral process.

Mgbudem this in Abuja, during a press briefing, where he also urged the people of Osun State to re-elect Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15 governorship election, describing the governor’s administration as transformational and deserving of a second term.

According to Mgbudem, the EFCC’s action in freezing the Osun State Government accounts on August 5 amounted to an abuse of constitutional powers and represented an attempt to influence the outcome of the governorship election.

He alleged that the anti-graft agency’s action, alongside what he described as earlier security intimidation, reinforced public concerns about an alleged attempt to undermine the Adeleke administration and manipulate the electoral process in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mgbudem said. “Accord demands the immediate resignation of the EFCC chairman. For embarrassing the President, the Party, the Government and people of Osun State and fellow citizens. The EFCC chairman should toe the path of honour and tender his resignation.

“If he fails to resign, President Tinubu should sack him immediately to restore the integrity of the anti-graft agency. There should be no sacred cow in the quest to sanitise the anti-corruption commission in particular, and the democratic system in general.”

The party chairman commended President Tinubu for directing the reversal of the account freeze, describing the intervention as timely and patriotic.

He, however, insisted that the EFCC leadership had lost the confidence of the party after what it described as an unconstitutional action.

Mgbudem alleged that the party members and supporters in Osun State had faced harassment, intimidation, arrests and attacks allegedly carried out by political thugs, while accusing security agencies of failing to protect party members.

He appealed to the President and the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the release of about 60 Accord members reportedly detained in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa states, saying their release would help reduce political tension ahead of the election.

The party maintained that Osun residents should be allowed to freely choose their governor without intimidation or interference from federal institutions.

Mgbudem said the governor had delivered significant dividends of democracy and deserved another four-year mandate to consolidate his achievements.

He urged eligible voters to turn out in large numbers on August 15, vote for Adeleke on the platform of Accord, and safeguard their votes until the final results are announced.

He appealed to the international community, civil society organisations, election observers, the Nigerian Bar Association, development partners and the media to closely monitor the election and speak out against any attempt to compromise the democratic process.

He added, “It is obvious that the whole world is watching the electoral management body to do the right things and make Nigeria proud, thus further consolidating our hard earned democracy.”

Mgbudem stressed that security agencies must remain professional, impartial and guided strictly by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, adding that the integrity of the Osun governorship election would serve as an important test ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He expressed confidence that Accord would emerge victorious in the poll, insisting that the people of Osun remained firmly behind Governor Adeleke because of what he described as the administration’s people-centred and transformative leadership.