The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended its decision to include former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in the campaign structure for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The ruling party maintained that Edu remains entitled to participate in political activities because she has not been convicted of any offence arising from the allegations that led to her removal from the Federal Executive Council.
The APC’s position was made public on Monday by one of the spokespersons of the party’s campaign committee, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief. 
Edu’s inclusion in the campaign structure has generated controversy, particularly because President Tinubu suspended her from office in January 2024 following allegations relating to financial impropriety. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) subsequently investigated the matter.
Defending the decision to give the former minister a role in the campaign organisation, Asekun-Shittu argued that an allegation or ongoing investigation should not be treated as proof of guilt.
She said it would be unfair to prevent Edu from participating in political activities indefinitely while awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.
According to the APC spokesperson, Edu should be allowed to continue her political career unless and until a competent authority establishes her guilt.
“I’d like to say that for Betta Edu, for example, she has not been found guilty. And it would be unfair to ask her to leave her life or refuse to live until the EFCC declares her,” she said.
Asekun-Shittu added that there remained a possibility that Edu could ultimately be cleared of the allegations against her.
“We believe that there is a very likely issue that she may not be found guilty,” she stated.
She further argued that Nigerian citizens who choose to participate in politics should not be prevented from doing so solely because they are facing unresolved allegations.
“Besides that, we also know that with politics, every Nigerian is allowed to be a politician if they choose to be. And we do not believe that we should then hold her life still or keep her stagnant until the case is decided,” she added.
The APC spokesperson also noted that the matter had remained unresolved for a considerable period.
“It’s been almost two years of that case. She does deserve an opportunity to present herself again for the party,” she said.
Edu’s reported appointment has attracted scrutiny because of the circumstances surrounding her departure from the Federal Executive Council.
She was named Director of Women Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.
Her appointment has raised questions among critics who believe that someone previously removed from a ministerial position over allegations involving public funds should not occupy a prominent role in a presidential campaign organisation.
However, Asekun-Shittu maintained that there was a distinction between holding a public office and participating in the internal political activities of a political party.
She argued that the APC was entitled to decide who it considered suitable and capable of contributing to its campaign efforts.
“I do understand. There is no report. I also need you to see it from this angle. The fact that it’s an internal party affair,” she said.
“If we decide that she’s going to be useful and be able to work on behalf of the party, she does have a right. It’s not a public thing.”
Asekun-Shittu acknowledged that Edu had faced allegations concerning the alleged misappropriation of public funds but stressed that the matter remained under investigation.
“She was alleged to have misappropriated public funds. That matter is still with the EFCC. It is being handled. She has not been proclaimed guilty and deserves an opportunity to continue to live her life,” she said.
Edu is not the only prominent figure whose reported inclusion in the campaign structure has generated public interest.
The names of several serving government officials have also reportedly appeared on the list, including the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji; Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Taminu Yakubu; and Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Bisoye Coker-Odusote.
The inclusion of serving public officials has also raised questions about the composition and final status of the campaign structure.
However, Asekun-Shittu clarified that the list was still being reviewed and had not yet been finalised.
According to the APC spokesperson, the party was still consulting and deliberating on some of the names contained in the proposed campaign structure.
“With regards to the other names you have mentioned, the list is not yet final. There is a lot of deliberation still going on,” she said.
She added that changes would be made if any individual was subsequently found to be legally ineligible to participate in the campaign structure.
“If it is found out that they are not allowed to play in that turf, I believe that the needful will be done,” Asekun-Shittu stated.
The spokesperson also assured that the APC would comply with relevant laws and regulations governing political activities.
She said anyone eventually found to be unsuitable or legally barred from participating would be removed where necessary.
As preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum, the composition of political campaign teams is expected to remain a subject of intense public scrutiny.
For now, the APC’s defence of Edu is based on the position that the allegations against her remain unresolved and that an investigation does not, by itself, constitute a conviction.
