By BLESSING FALI
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, saying she should not be denied the opportunity to participate in political activities because she has not been found guilty of any offence.
The explanation was given by Kemi Asekun-Shittu, one of the spokespersons for the campaign council, during an interview on Monday.
Edu was appointed Director of Women Mobilisation in the campaign council unveiled by the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Her inclusion has generated controversy because of her suspension from office in January 2024 following allegations surrounding the attempted transfer of N585 million meant for vulnerable Nigerians into a private account.
Responding to questions about the decision to include her despite the unresolved Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigation, Asekun-Shittu argued that the former minister remained entitled to political participation because no conviction had been recorded against her.
She said it would be unfair to expect Edu to put her political career and personal life on hold indefinitely while waiting for the conclusion of an investigation.
According to her, the matter has remained unresolved for almost two years, and Edu should be allowed to continue participating in political activities while the relevant authorities handle the investigation.
Asekun-Shittu also described the campaign council as an internal party arrangement, arguing that the APC had the right to determine who it considered capable of contributing to its campaign activities.
She said the party believed Edu could still be useful to its political structure, particularly in mobilising women ahead of the 2027 election.
The controversy over Edu’s appointment stems from her removal from the Federal Executive Council after President Tinubu suspended her and directed an investigation into the financial transactions involving her former ministry.
Although Edu was questioned by the EFCC, no publicly announced final conclusion of the investigation has emerged. She has not been convicted of the allegations.
The APC spokesperson further disclosed that the campaign council list was not necessarily final and could still be reviewed by the party leadership.
She said some appointments were political in nature and would be examined to ensure that the final composition complied with relevant laws and regulations.
The clarification comes amid broader criticism of the campaign council’s composition, particularly the inclusion of individuals facing allegations or questions over their conduct in previous public offices.
The African Democratic Congress has criticised the inclusion of Edu and former Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund chairman Ngozi Olejeme, describing the council as a platform for rehabilitating people facing unresolved corruption allegations.However, the APC has maintained that allegations should not automatically prevent individuals from participating in politics where there has been no conviction.
Edu’s appointment places her in charge of women mobilisation as the ruling party begins preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with Tinubu serving as chairman of the campaign council and former Zamfara State governor Abdulaziz Yari as director general.
The debate over her appointment is expected to continue as the campaign structure takes shape and the APC works to defend its choice of personnel ahead of the election.
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