Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in the campaign structure for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid despite her ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Wike said being investigated by the anti-graft agency does not automatically bar an individual from participating in political activities or canvassing votes for a candidate.
The former Rivers State governor made the remarks on Wednesday during a media parley he hosted, which was aired on Channels Television.
He questioned what he described as an inconsistent approach to the participation of people facing allegations in political campaigns, arguing that an individual under investigation but not convicted or charged in court could still engage in political activities.
“You (media) were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case to be in a campaign council. And I was just watching the lady. The lady doesn’t even know what to say,” Wike said.
He added, “Now, somebody cannot be in a campaign to canvass for votes for a particular person, but somebody who has an EFCC case can contest an election and win an election?”
Wike maintained that there had been cases in which individuals facing criminal allegations contested elections and went on to win.
“This person had an EFCC case in court, charged to court. He contested an election and became a Governor,” he said without mentioning any name.
The FCT minister further argued that even someone serving a prison sentence could influence voters by expressing support for a political candidate.
“Listen. Even a prisoner… maybe they have somebody in prison. I go and visit the person. The person can tell me, ‘My brother, I want you to support so-and-so candidate.’ A prisoner has canvassed for vote.”
READ ALSO: ‘EFCC not investigating Betta Edu for N30 billion’
He also cited the case of an unnamed individual who he said had been accused of involvement in a coup in Nigeria, arguing that the person had similarly participated in political canvassing.
“I was watching, when Channels, when Sunrise, who came up to say, ‘Ah, how can somebody who’s being looked for as a coup plotter is now canvassing for votes for so-and-so government?’ Somebody EFCC is looking for is now canvassing for votes for so-and-so person.
“But… a party, or a candidate cannot, simply because EFCC is investigating the person, cannot be a member of the campaign council to campaign for votes.”
Wike’s position comes amid public debate over Edu’s appointment as Director of Women Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s 2027 campaign.
Tinubu suspended Edu from office in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety, after which the EFCC commenced an investigation into the matter. Edu has not been publicly declared guilty of any offence connected to the investigation.
Defending her inclusion in the campaign structure during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, APC campaign council spokesperson, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, said Edu had not been found guilty of any offence.
“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.
“But besides that, we also know that with politics, every Nigerian is allowed to be a politician if they choose to. 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,” she said.
Asekun-Shittu further described the campaign committee as an internal party arrangement, saying the APC had the authority to determine those who would serve in it.
She, however, noted that the campaign list was not final and could still be reviewed.