The composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election has triggered debate, particularly over the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, former Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Board Chairperson, Ngozi Olejeme, and Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji.
Edu was named Director of Women Mobilisation, while Olejeme was appointed South-South Zonal Director for Election Planning, Coordination and Mobilisation. Adedeji was appointed Deputy Director of Fundraising.
The appointments have generated questions from some observers over the ethical and legal implications of involving individuals who have faced allegations or controversies relating to public office in the campaign structure.
Edu was suspended as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs in January 2024 after a controversy surrounding a reported request to transfer N585 million in public funds to a private account. She was subsequently investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
She was later replaced as minister during a cabinet reshuffle, while the outcome of the EFCC investigation into the matter has not been publicly established in the information provided.
Olejeme has also faced legal proceedings relating to alleged financial offences. She was arraigned over allegations including money laundering and diversion of funds during her tenure as NSITF board chairperson. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC had previously declared her wanted over allegations including criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering. A Federal High Court in Abuja also ordered the interim forfeiture of properties allegedly linked to her.
Meanwhile, questions surrounding Adedeji’s appointment centre largely on his position as head of the federal revenue-collection agency and his role as Deputy Director of Fundraising for the campaign council.
Critics have argued that his involvement could create a perception of a conflict between his responsibilities as a serving public official and his role in raising funds for a partisan political campaign.
The APC has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the inclusion of the three individuals in the campaign council.
An APC chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said only the Presidency could explain the rationale behind the list.
The party source, however, argued that allegations against Edu should not be treated as proof of guilt, while defending Adedeji’s inclusion on the grounds that his membership of the campaign council did not automatically mean public revenue would be used for political activities.
Lawyers have also expressed differing views on the controversy.
Kano-based lawyer Barrister Umar Usman Danbaito said the appointments may not necessarily violate the law but raised serious ethical and moral questions.
“Legally speaking, there is nothing against the inclusion of the former minister or any other party. But from a moral point of view, the campaign team of the president should contain members of higher integrity and civility that can attract the attention of the masses,” he said.
Danbaito was particularly critical of Adedeji’s involvement, arguing that a serving official responsible for generating revenue for the country should not simultaneously be involved in fundraising for a political campaign.
He warned that such arrangements could create doubts about the separation between public resources and partisan political activities.
However, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kunle Kalejaye, defended the appointments, stressing the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence.
Kalejaye argued that allegations against Edu and others should not automatically be treated as evidence of guilt.
“What does our Constitution say about the presumption of innocence? If you have been accused of an offence, you are deemed innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
He maintained that he had not identified any constitutional provision that expressly disqualified Edu from serving on a political campaign council.
On Adedeji, Kalejaye similarly questioned why his position as Chairman of the NRS should prevent him from undertaking a political assignment for his party.
He challenged critics to identify the specific legal or constitutional provisions that prohibit the appointments.
Another SAN, Taiye Oniyide, however, questioned the propriety of involving serving public officials, particularly Adedeji, in the campaign structure.
Oniyide said Adedeji’s role as the head of a revenue-generating agency could create an uncomfortable public perception, even if there was no evidence that public funds had been diverted to the campaign.
“It gives some sort of sour taste in our mouth to hear that, of all the persons in this country who can come in and rightly so, not public servants. One of them, particularly, is in charge of raising revenue for the federal government,” he said.
Oniyide acknowledged that he could not identify a specific law expressly prohibiting the appointment, but argued that public officials should also be guided by ethical considerations beyond the strict wording of the law.
He said the involvement of serving officials in partisan activities could also create perceptions that political loyalty might later be rewarded with government appointments.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mumini Jimoh, took a different position, arguing that there was nothing legally wrong with the President selecting individuals he believes can advance his political objectives.
Jimoh stressed that membership of a campaign council should not be equated with appointment into public office.
According to him, the individuals were not appointed as ministers, permanent secretaries or holders of statutory government positions through their campaign roles.
“The President can appoint anybody who he deems fit and feels can deliver for him. This is not bound by any law,” he said.
Jimoh added that the key issue would arise only if a serving official used public resources or diverted government funds to finance political activities.
“There is no way because you have been appointed as the chairman of a private entity, you now go and take illegal money from the public. The EFCC and ICPC are there, they can always track you down,” he said.
The controversy highlights a broader debate over the boundary between partisan political participation and public office, particularly as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 general election.
While some lawyers view the appointments as legally permissible, others argue that public officials and individuals facing unresolved allegations should exercise greater caution to avoid conflicts of interest and protect public confidence in the electoral process.
