The All Progressives Congress has defended the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in the campaign council for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, saying she has not been found guilty of any offence.
One of the spokespersons for the committee, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday.
Edu was suspended by Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety and was subsequently investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Responding to questions about her inclusion in the campaign structure despite the ongoing EFCC investigation, Asekun-Shittu said it would be unfair to prevent Edu from participating in political activities until the anti-graft agency concludes its investigation.
“I’d like to say that for Betta Edu, for example, she has not been found guilty. And it will be unfair to ask that she leaves her life or refuses to live her life until the EFCC declares her. We believe that there is very likely the issue that she may not be found guilty.
“But besides that, we also know that with politics, every Nigerian is allowed to be a politician if they choose to be. And we do not believe that we should then hold her life still or keep her stagnant until the case is decided. It’s been almost two years of that case.
“She does deserve an opportunity to present herself again for the party,” she said.
