Prisoners and people under EFCC investigation can canvass votes, Wike says

Nyesom Wike has challenged the moral objections surrounding the inclusion of a person under investigation in President Bola Tinubu’s campaign team, asking why political participation should be barred before a court has established guilt.

Speaking at a media parley in Abuja that aired on Channels Television, the Federal Capital Territory minister questioned what he described as a double standard in the scrutiny of campaign figures. He said someone being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission could still take part in political activities if the person had not been charged in court.

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You (media) were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case to be in a campaign council. And I was just watching the lady. The lady doesn’t even know what to say.

“You (media) were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case to be in a campaign council. And I was just watching the lady. The lady doesn’t even know what to say,” Wike said.

He contrasted campaign participation with eligibility to contest elections, arguing that people facing criminal allegations had previously contested and won elections. “Now, somebody 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?” he said.

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Now, somebody 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 extended the argument to people serving prison sentences. “Listen. Even a prisoner… maybe they have somebody in prison. I go and visit the person. The person can tell me, ‘My brother, I want you to support so-and-so candidate.’ A prisoner has canvassed for vote.”

The comments followed controversy over the inclusion of Edu as director of women’s mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Tinubu suspended her in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety, after which the EFCC investigated her. Campaign council spokesperson Kemi Asekun-Shittu defended the appointment by saying Edu had not been found guilty of an offence.

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Listen. Even a prisoner… maybe they have somebody in prison. I go and visit the person. The person can tell me, ‘My brother, I want you to support so-and-so candidate.’ A prisoner has canvassed for vote.