ABUJA — The inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, as Director of Women Mobilisation in President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council has sparked widespread public criticism and opposition backlash over unresolved corruption allegations against her.
The campaign council list, released over the weekend of August 22-23, 2026, placed Edu in a prominent role. She was suspended by Tinubu himself on January 8, 2024, after a leaked memo showed she had directed the transfer of about ₦585 million — meant as grants for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states — into a private account.
The then Accountant-General of the Federation described the payment as illegal. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opened an investigation, recovered related funds, and flagged multiple accounts. Edu denied wrongdoing and was later replaced in the cabinet, but the probe has not publicly concluded with a conviction or formal clearance.
Opposition parties led the criticism. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), through its National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, described the campaign council as a “rehabilitation centre for corruption suspects” and a “rehabilitation system for individuals carrying unresolved questions of corruption and public accountability.”
The party specifically flagged Edu and former Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) chairperson Ngozi Olejeme (named South-South Zonal Director for Election Planning, Coordination and Mobilisation), demanding clarity on whether their cases had been resolved and, if so, by whom and when. “Once a person becomes politically useful enough, yesterday’s questions apparently no longer require today’s answers,” the ADC stated.
It framed the 2027 election as a referendum on Tinubu’s performance and accountability record.
The Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) called the council an “assembly of disconnected yes men and discredited politicians.” Social commentators and civil society voices raised ethical concerns about the optics of elevating individuals linked to financial scandals into key campaign positions.
Legal observers noted that while no conviction bars political participation, the appointments raise moral questions about integrity standards in the ruling party’s re-election machinery.
The APC has defended the decision. Campaign spokesperson Kemi Asekun-Shittu stated on Channels Television’s Morning Brief that Edu has not been found guilty of any offence. “She has not been proclaimed guilty and deserves an opportunity to continue to live her life,” she said, adding that an ongoing investigation should not prevent political involvement.
She described the council as an internal party structure and noted that the list remains subject to review if necessary to comply with the law. On September 2, 2026, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike also defended the inclusion, arguing that people facing EFCC investigations have contested and won elections in Nigeria, and that an investigation alone does not disqualify anyone from campaigning.
Other names on the council, including serving officials such as Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman Zacch Adedeji (deputy director of fundraising), have drawn parallel scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. The broader composition has been criticised as prioritising loyalty over clean records.
Edu’s return to a high-profile political role nearly three years after her suspension has intensified debate about the Tinubu administration’s anti-corruption stance.
As of early September 2026, the EFCC has not publicly announced the final outcome of her case. The controversy continues to dominate political discourse as the APC formalises its structure for the 2027 presidential race.
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