FCT Minister Nyesom Wike addresses journalists during a media chat in Abuja, saying the Peoples Democratic Party must rebuild its structures and resolve internal crises before it can win another presidential election
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission does not stop anyone from campaigning for a political candidate.
Wike made the statement while defending the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign team.
He spoke during a media parley on Wednesday, where he questioned the criticism of Ms Edu’s appointment.
Ms Edu was listed as Director of Women Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council. President Tinubu suspended her in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety, after which the EFCC investigated the matter.
Wike said an EFCC investigation should not be treated as a conviction, particularly where the person has not been found guilty by a court.
He questioned why someone under investigation could not campaign for a candidate when people facing criminal cases had previously contested elections and held public office.
“A person 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.
APC campaign council spokesperson Kemi Asekun-Shittu also defended Edu’s inclusion, saying she had not been found guilty of any offence.
She said it would be unfair to prevent Edu from participating in politics while waiting for the EFCC investigation to end.
Asekun-Shittu said the campaign council was an internal party structure and that the APC could decide who served on it.
She noted that the list was not final and could still be reviewed.
Edu has not been publicly declared guilty of any offence arising from the EFCC investigation.
The controversy has renewed debate over whether political parties should restrict people facing investigations from holding campaign positions or allow them to participate until a court establishes guilt.
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