I’ll Remain With Coalition, Tambuwal Vows

Former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has vowed to remain with the coalition despite the recent encounter with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Tambuwal, who said he would not realign with another interest ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisted he was still with the coalition.

Speaking in Sokoto on his return from the EFCC custody in what he described as a “brief visit,” Tambuwal said the anti-graft agency invited him and honoured the invitation on August 6.

Tambuwal said that after the initial rounds of questioning, he was allowed to return home but asked to report back on August 10 and 11 for further interrogation.

“I will remain steadfast with the coalition for national rescue. I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be blackmailed. No one can tarnish my record,” Tambuwal said.

According to the former speaker of the House of Representatives, after hours of questioning during the follow-up visit, he requested to return home again.

“I told them to go back and tell the chairman of the EFCC that I am a former Speaker of the House of Representatives with an unblemished record, a two-term Governor of Sokoto State, a serving Senator, and a Commander of the Order of the Niger. I should be allowed to go on self-recognition,” Tambuwal said.

He stated that despite appeals from his legal team, which included three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), the EFCC operatives refused to vary the bail conditions.

As a result, he was detained overnight before being released the following morning after meeting the bail terms.

“Why now?” he queried, hinting that the current Sokoto State administration had set up a “kangaroo commission of inquiry” to probe his tenure, which he believed was politically motivated.

He argued that these events were part of efforts to discredit him and silence dissenting voices critical of the federal government under President Bola Tinubu.

“In Nigeria today, there are two lines: those with Bola Tinubu and his government, and those with the people of Nigeria. We chose to stand with the people,” he declared.

Tambuwal criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), referencing a common political cliché: “Once you join the APC, whatever your sins, they are forgiven.”