The All Progressives Congress has defended the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, insisting that she has not been found guilty of any offence and should not be prevented from participating in political activities while an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigation remains unresolved.
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Kemi Asekun-Shittu, one of the spokespersons of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, stated the party’s position while appearing on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday.
Edu, who was suspended from office by President Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations surrounding financial transactions in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was subsequently investigated by the EFCC.
Her emergence as Director of Women Mobilisation in the President’s 2027 campaign structure has renewed public scrutiny over the status of the investigation and whether her return to a prominent political role is appropriate while the matter remains unresolved.
Asekun-Shittu, however, argued that allegations and an investigation should not be treated as equivalent to a finding of guilt.
“I’d like to say that for Betta Edu, for example, she has not been found guilty. And it will be unfair to ask that she leaves her life or refuses to live her life until the EFCC declares her. We believe that there is very likely the issue that she may not be found guilty,” she said.
“But besides that, we also know that with politics, every Nigerian is allowed to be a politician if they choose to be. And we do not believe that we should then hold her life still or keep her stagnant until the case is decided. It’s been almost two years of that case.
“She does deserve an opportunity to present herself again for the party.”
When confronted with the fact that Edu’s suspension from the Federal Executive Council arose from allegations concerning public funds, Asekun-Shittu maintained that membership of the campaign council was essentially an internal political decision.
“I do understand. There is no report. I also need you to see it from this angle. The fact that it’s an internal party affair. If we decide that she’s going to be useful and be able to work on behalf of the party, she does have a right. It’s not a public thing,” she said.
The spokesperson was subsequently challenged on that position, particularly because the allegations that triggered Edu’s suspension concerned her conduct while occupying public office.
Asekun-Shittu maintained that the EFCC investigation had not resulted in a finding of guilt against the former minister.
“She was alleged to have misappropriated public funds. That matter is still with the EFCC. It is being handled. She has not been proclaimed guilty and deserves an opportunity to continue to live her life. That is what we are saying,” she said.
President Tinubu suspended Edu from office in January 2024 and directed the EFCC to investigate financial transactions involving the humanitarian affairs ministry.
Edu was subsequently questioned by the anti-graft agency, but no publicly reported court judgment has convicted her of any offence arising from the allegations.
Her appointment to the campaign council has nevertheless revived questions over the status of the investigation and whether the Federal Government or EFCC intends to publicly communicate its outcome.
The controversy over the campaign council is not limited to Edu.
Other serving public officials listed in the campaign structure include the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji; Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu; and Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Bisoye Coker-Odusote.
Questions have consequently been raised about the participation of heads of federal agencies in partisan campaign activities and whether their inclusion complies with applicable public service and electoral rules.
Asekun-Shittu said the campaign council list was not final and could still be reconsidered by the party.
“The list in itself is not sacrosanct. It will be taken in and readjusted. Most of these appointments are political. For political appointments, we would sit down, look at that list again, and decide the best way forward,” she said.
She added that where it is established that any individual is legally prohibited from participating in the campaign structure, the party would make the necessary changes.
“With regards to the other names you have mentioned, the list is not yet final. There is a lot of deliberation still going on. If it is found out that they are not allowed to play in that turf, I believe that the needful will be done,” she said.
Asekun-Shittu further maintained that the APC would comply with applicable law in determining the final composition of the council.
“As a party, we believe in the rule of law. If it means that we need to withdraw that list and rearrange it, we will do that,” she said.
The APC unveiled the campaign council on August 22 as it intensifies preparations for President Tinubu’s re-election campaign. Edu was named Director of Women Mobilisation, a role that returns the former APC National Women Leader to a prominent position within the party’s national campaign machinery.
Her inclusion has also attracted criticism from the opposition African Democratic Congress, which questioned why individuals associated with unresolved corruption allegations were included in the campaign structure. That criticism remains a political position and does not amount to a finding of wrongdoing against Edu.
For now, the APC’s position is that Edu remains entitled to participate in party politics because no court has convicted her of any offence, while questions surrounding the eventual outcome of the EFCC investigation remain unresolved publicly.
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