The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed the uproar over the appointment of Betta Edu, former humanitarian affairs minister, who was suspended and sacked over a corruption scandal, arguing that it is within the party’s right to use her in the campaign for President Bola Tinubu and that it is not a public affair.
Kemi Asekun-Shittu, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, justified Ms Edu’s appointment as a member of the council in an interview with Channels TV on Monday.
Asked why the APC appointed Ms Edu to its presidential campaign council despite her unresolved corruption case before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Asekun-Shittu said, “I need you to see it from this angle. It is an internal party affair if we decide that she is going to be useful, and be able to work on behalf of the party, she does have a right. It is not a public thing.”
When reminded that Ms Edu was suspended and sacked for her involvement in the diversion of N585 million into a private account, Mrs Asekun-Shittu admitted, “That matter is still with the EFCC; it is being handled.”
On August 22, Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for Mr Tinubu, announced the appointment of two women, Ngozi Olejeme and Betta Edu, who are battling unresolved corruption scandals, as 2027 campaign council members for his re-election.
While Ms Olejeme is facing trial for N1 billion fraud, Ms Edu is under investigation for the diversion of N585 million into a private account, a development that led to her sack in 2024.
Ms Edu was appointed “director of women mobilisation” for Mr Tinubu’s re-election, while the EFCC said it was still investigating her matter almost three years after her suspension.
Contacted for an update on Ms Edu’s case, spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, told the People Gazette, “I cannot give you a one-word answer. But the thing I can say concerning her matter is that investigations are still ongoing.”
Also, two former governors, Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye, convicted of looting multi-billion-naira public funds, were among those appointed as members of Mr Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council.