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Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended the participation of persons under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in political campaigns, arguing that an ongoing probe does not prevent anyone from canvassing votes.
Wike made the comment on Wednesday during a media parley in Abuja, which was aired on Channels Television, amid controversy over the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign structure.
Edu was listed as Director of Women Mobilisation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council. She was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety and was subsequently investigated by the EFCC.
Wike questioned the criticism surrounding her inclusion, arguing that being investigated by the anti-graft agency does not automatically prevent an individual from participating 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?”
The former Rivers State governor said there had been instances where individuals facing criminal proceedings contested elections and eventually won, although he did not identify the person he referenced.
“This person had an EFCC case in court, charged to court. He contested an election and became a Governor,” he said.
Wike also took his argument further, saying even a person serving a prison sentence could express support for a political candidate and canvass votes.
“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,” he said.
He also referred to criticism involving an unnamed individual accused of being involved in a coup plot, questioning why similar standards should not apply to people under EFCC investigation.
“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 said.
The controversy over Edu’s inclusion had earlier drawn a response from APC campaign council spokesperson, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, who said the former minister 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,” Asekun-Shittu said.
She added that the campaign council was an internal party structure and that the APC retained the authority to determine its membership, while noting that the list could still be reviewed.
Edu has not been publicly declared guilty of any offence in connection with the EFCC investigation.
