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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended the participation of individuals under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in political campaigns, arguing that being under probe does not strip anyone of the right to canvass votes.
Wike made the remarks during a media parley on Wednesday, following controversy over the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid.
The former Rivers State governor questioned what he described as double standards in public discourse, noting that individuals facing investigation or even standing trial have contested elections and won without being barred by law.
"You were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case in a campaign council," Wike said. “Somebody cannot be in a campaign to canvass votes for a candidate, but somebody who has an EFCC case can contest an election and win?”
He further argued that an ongoing investigation does not amount to a conviction and should not automatically disqualify a person from engaging in political activities.
According to Wike, there have been cases where individuals facing criminal charges were elected into public office, insisting that participation in a campaign team cannot be treated differently.
He also maintained that even a prisoner could lawfully express support for a political candidate.
"Even a prisoner can canvass votes. If I visit someone in prison and the person tells me to support a particular candidate, that prisoner has canvassed for votes," he said.
Wike also referred to a past situation involving an individual allegedly linked to a coup plot who, according to him, was still able to publicly support a political candidate.
His comments come amid criticism over the appointment of Betta Edu as Director of Women Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Edu was suspended as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety and has been under investigation by the EFCC. She has, however, not been convicted of any offence.
Defending her inclusion earlier, APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, said Edu remains innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty.
She argued that it would be unfair to prevent her from participating in politics while investigations are ongoing, adding that every Nigerian has the constitutional right to belong to a political party and engage in political activities.
Asekun-Shittu also described the composition of the APC campaign council as an internal party matter, noting that the list remains subject to review.
