The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign structure despite an ongoing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigation involving her.
Wike made the comment on Wednesday during a media parley in Abuja, arguing that being investigated by the EFCC does not prevent an individual from participating in political activities or canvassing votes for a candidate.
Wike questioned the double standard in the criticism of people involved in political campaigns, arguing that an individual under investigation but not convicted of an offence should not automatically be barred from political activities.
“You 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.
“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 said there had been instances where individuals facing criminal allegations or court cases 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 naming the individual.
The minister further argued that even a person serving a prison sentence could influence political support for a 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,” Wike said.
He also referred to an unnamed individual allegedly linked to a coup plot, saying the person had similarly participated in canvassing votes for a political candidate.
Wike said it was inconsistent to prevent someone from joining a campaign council simply because the EFCC was investigating the individual.
His comments followed controversy over the inclusion of Edu in the campaign structure for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
NPO Reports recall that Tinubu had in suspended her as minister following allegations of financial impropriety.