The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have denied allegations of holding secret meetings with an opposition party governor to influence their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). These allegations were initially made by Paul Ibe, spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who claimed that EFCC chairperson Ola Olukoyede and the Solicitor General of the Federation, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, met with a former and incumbent governor from a South-south state shortly before their defection to the APC.

In response, the Office of the AGF dismissed these claims as baseless and malicious. Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the AGF, stated that the allegations were unfounded and reiterated the administration's commitment to the rule of law. Similarly, the EFCC rejected the claims, with spokesperson Dele Oyewale describing them as unfounded and outrageous, emphasizing that Olukoyede is apolitical and the EFCC is against partisan tendencies.

Mr. Ibe's allegations centered around the idea that the APC is leveraging the EFCC to intimidate PDP governors with corruption probes, offering to clear their records if they defect to the APC. He cited specific instances, including a lawmaker and a lawyer, and referenced the defections of a former and current governor from a South-South state. However, he did not provide concrete evidence to support these claims.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would continue to uphold the rule of law and would not falter in the fight against corruption, regardless of political affiliation. He also dismissed the claim that the EFCC Chairman and the Solicitor General of the Federation met with any governor ahead of their defection to the APC. The Federal Government has also stated that defection to the APC would not prevent them from pursuing corruption cases against governors and other political office holders.

Meanwhile, political shifts continue as Ngozi Okolie, a House of Representatives member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the APC. President Bola Tinubu has also expressed anticipation for more politicians to defect to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Federal Government insists that ongoing corruption investigations will continue regardless of party affiliation, dismissing allegations that defections are linked to evading prosecution.