Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the inclusion of individuals under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in political campaign structures, arguing that being investigated does not automatically disqualify anyone from canvassing votes. Wike made the remarks during a media parley in Abuja.
He was reacting to criticism over the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in the campaign structure for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid.
Edu was listed as Director of Women Mobilisation in the All Progressives Congress 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 what he described as a double standard in the scrutiny of people involved in political campaigns, noting that an individual under investigation but not convicted should not automatically be barred from participating in political activities.
Source: Punch