The All Progressives Congress in Kwara state has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to guard against being used to settle political scores by powerful politicians.

Speaking on the background of invitation of the wife of former governor of the state, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, by the EFCC with journalists in Ilorin on Friday, the state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Isola Balogun-Fulani, said the invitation was politically motivated and ill-timed.

Alhaji Balogun-Fulani, who said that the anti-graft agency should tread softly and not ignite political turmoil in the country, added that some people in the ruling political party were not happy with the emergence of her husband, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as senate president.

The party said that the invitation of Mrs. Saraki by the EFCC was allegedly aimed to discredit her and smear the image of her husband.

The APC chairman, who addressed journalists after its emergency state executive council meeting, said the party was not saying that the anti-graft agency should not do its mandatory duties. He added, however, that the EFCC should not politicise its functions and duties.

He said that the party had to calm the frayed nerves of women in the state, who had planned to stage a protest against the invitation of the wife of the senate president.

"We, as a party, received the news of the invitation of the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki as a shock. After five years of leaving office as the governor of Kwara state, it is now that the EFCC thought it necessary to invite the wife of Senate President Bukola Saraki for questioning. Kwara APC thought the invitation is politically-motivated.

"Everybody is aware that the emergence of her husband as the Senate President did not go down well with some people. Her invitation is a way to throw mud on the person of the senate president and the senate in general.

"It is also a political way of discrediting the person of Mrs. Saraki and her husband. Though, we in the state will not say the anti-graft agency should not do its lawful duties, but it should be mindful of how it does its duties. I urge the EFCC not to politicize the invitation of Mrs. Saraki."

He added: "We have to calm the nerves of Kwara women otherwise they would have been on the streets demonstrating against the malicious invitation by the agency. I want to appeal to the EFCC to please tread softly and not ignite political turmoil in Kwara State, north-central and Nigeria at large. The Senate is there for the whole of Nigeria and the Senate President is representing the whole of Nigeria. This too should be extended to the wife. The EFCC should not allow itself to be used by political gladiators."