The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately release former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta.

The party’s national deputy youth leader, Timothy Osadolor, made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Osadolor described Okowa’s detention by EFCC as political witch-hunting, persecution and another method of silencing the opposition parties, saying this was not good for democracy.

“Delta state government has not said that its money is missing,” said Mr Osadolor. “EFCC is playing the role of a litigant and that of the prosecution, and going to the media with an investigation that was purportedly ongoing.”

He added, “The development is very dangerous, and we must condemn it.”

Operatives of the anti-graft agency had confirmed the arrest of Mr Okowa, the PDP vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.

According to EFCC, Mr Okowa was arrested when he reported at its Port Harcourt directorate for allegedly diverting N1.3 trillion in proceeds of 13 per cent of derivation funds accrued to the state during his tenure.

Mr Osadolor said Mr Okowa had been working free until the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, started criticising government policies.

“The man was not evading arrest. He is a global figure, and he is being robbed with humongous figures, which is not true,” he said.

Mr Osadolor said some former governors and leaders of the ruling party had some financial management allegations against them, yet they were walking freely.

“What is the difference with what has happened in the case of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa if not mere politics? Okowa should be released while media trials and the embarrassment of opposition leaders must stop.

“We should also know that there is a pattern from the arrest of Okowa; by next week, EFCC may go after Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo.

“This is a plan targeted at opposition leaders in the country. We are not saying that political office leaders should not be called to account, but they should be devoid of political sentiments,” he said.

Mr Osadolor advised the anti-graft agency not to see itself as an extension of the ruling party or the presidency but as a neutral, independent body investigating financial crimes.

“We are also calling for a total overhaul of the EFCC Act so that no president, no matter how powerful he is, can appoint directors for the commission.

“Let the judiciary or the senate be the one that will appoint the chairman or board members of EFCC. It should be removed from the exclusive control of the presidency,” he said.

(NAN)