Ex-minister sacked by Tinubu over corruption allegations appointed into president’s campaign

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Betta Edu, his former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to a senior position within his campaign council for the 2027 presidential election. This appointment comes nearly three years after Edu was suspended in January 2024 due to allegations of paying government funds into private accounts, a move that violated the nation's financial regulations. Edu has been named director of women mobilization for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, chaired by Tinubu himself. Her return to a prominent political role has reignited questions surrounding the unresolved corruption allegations that led to her ministerial suspension. The controversy erupted when a memo surfaced indicating Edu had authorized the transfer of ₦585.19 million, intended for vulnerable groups in four states, to a private account. The office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had previously distanced itself from the payment, deeming it "illegal." While Edu denied wrongdoing and was released on bail after questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the allegations remain unresolved. The appointment has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which described the campaign council as a "rehabilitation system" for individuals with unresolved corruption allegations. The ADC specifically called for clarification on the status of cases involving Edu and other appointees facing similar questions, arguing that "once a person becomes politically useful enough, yesterday’s questions apparently no longer require today’s answers."

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rehabilitation system