The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, insisting that she should not be prevented from participating in politics while an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation remains unresolved.
The controversy followed Edu’s appointment as Director of Women Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s re-election bid. Her inclusion has attracted renewed scrutiny because she was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations surrounding the handling of public funds.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson Kemi Asekun-Shittu defended Edu’s political comeback, arguing that an allegation or ongoing investigation should not amount to a permanent political ban.
“Betta Edu has not been found guilty. With politics, every Nigerian is allowed to be a politician if they choose to be. 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.”
Edu was suspended from office on January 8, 2024, after a memo emerged in which she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer ₦585 million meant for grants to vulnerable Nigerians into a private account. President Tinubu subsequently directed the EFCC to investigate the matter. Edu was later questioned by the anti-graft agency and released on bail.
The EFCC’s wider investigation into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation subsequently expanded, with the commission announcing in April 2024 that it had recovered about ₦30 billion in connection with its investigation into the ministry and related agencies. The agency also said dozens of bank accounts were being examined. Edu has denied wrongdoing and has not been publicly convicted of any offence arising from the investigation.
Asekun-Shittu maintained that Edu’s inclusion in the campaign structure is fundamentally a political party matter, rather than a government appointment.
She argued that if the APC believes Edu can contribute to its campaign, she should be allowed to do so, stressing that the unresolved EFCC investigation does not amount to a declaration of guilt.
The APC spokesperson was also questioned about other controversial names appearing on the campaign council list. She acknowledged that the list could still be reviewed and adjusted, saying the party would comply with relevant legal requirements where necessary.
“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.”
The development has reignited debate over the political rehabilitation of individuals facing unresolved allegations and whether ongoing investigations should affect their participation in partisan politics.
For the APC, however, the position remains that an investigation is not a conviction, and that Edu should be allowed to continue her political career unless and until a competent authority establishes otherwise.