Wike Defends EFCC-Probed Person’s Role in Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has defended the participation of a person being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign structure, arguing that an investigation does not automatically bar anyone from political activities.

Speaking during a media parley he hosted on Wednesday, which was broadcast by Channels Television, Wike questioned the basis for criticising individuals under investigation for participating in election campaigns.

The minister argued that being investigated by the EFCC, without being convicted or otherwise legally disqualified, should not prevent an individual from canvassing votes for a political candidate.

“You (the 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 challenged the argument further, asking why an individual under an EFCC investigation could not campaign for a candidate when people facing legal cases had previously contested elections and won.

“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 asked.

Wike recalled an instance involving an unnamed politician who, despite having an EFCC case in court, contested an election and eventually became a governor.

“This person had an EFCC case in court, charged to court. He contested an election and became a governor,” he said.

The minister went further to illustrate his argument with the example of a prisoner, saying even someone serving a jail term could express political support and canvass votes.

“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 votes,” Wike said.

He also referenced criticism surrounding an unnamed person allegedly being sought over a coup plot, who he said had been accused of canvassing support for a political candidate.

“I was watching, when Channels, when Sunrise, who came up to say, ‘Ah, how can somebody who’s being looked for as a coup plotter is now canvassing for votes for so-and-so government?’ Somebody EFCC is looking for is now canvassing for votes for so-and-so person.

“But… a party, or a candidate cannot, simply because EFCC is investigating the person, cannot be a member of the campaign council to campaign for votes.”

The controversy arose over the inclusion of former Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq in the campaign structure for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential re-election campaign.

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