The Imole Campaign Council, TICC, has accused the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of allegedly turning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, into what it described as a political campaign tool in a bid to intimidate supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

TICC spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the opposition party had “lost direction and hope,” alleging that the APC was resorting to propaganda, false alarms and blackmail after failing to convince the people of Osun State with issue-based campaigning.

According to him, “Only people who are intellectually shallow and morally bankrupt will display their desperation using the EFCC, as though the EFCC is not a government institution doing its lawful job within the confines of the law.”

The council maintained that the anti-graft agency remained a public institution carrying out statutory responsibilities and should not be reduced to what it termed a political slogan by desperate politicians.

TICC further alleged that the Osun APC had abandoned discussions on governance and development to focus on spreading rumours of arrests and intimidation in an attempt to create panic among members of the ruling administration and supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The group also claimed that residents of the state were politically conscious and could not be swayed by what it described as “fear politics” or abuse of federal influence.

The statement took a swipe at former governor Gboyega Oyetola, alleging that he was openly boasting about federal connections after being rejected by voters in the last governorship election.

It added that the people of the state were more concerned about governance, infrastructure, workers’ welfare, healthcare, education and economic growth, areas in which it said Governor Adeleke had continued to perform creditably.

TICC also alleged that if any individuals deserved investigation by the EFCC, attention should be directed at issues surrounding the management of the $20 million primary healthcare grant during Oyetola’s administration, as well as allegations involving APC campaign officials.

The council, however, urged the opposition party to stop dragging anti-corruption agencies into political contests, insisting that Osun voters were “wiser and politically aware beyond intimidation tactics.”