By Sekinat Osundiji
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the inclusion of a person under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in President Bola Tinubu’s campaign team, arguing that an ongoing probe does not prevent anyone from canvassing votes.
Wike made the remarks during a media parley and television interviews on Wednesday, while reacting to questions surrounding the involvement of politicians facing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations in political campaigns.
The FCT minister questioned the moral basis for excluding a politician under EFCC investigation from a campaign council when other politicians who had previously faced criminal charges were allowed to contest elections and hold public office.
According to him, being investigated by the EFCC does not automatically prevent an individual from participating in politics or campaigning for a candidate.
He said, “Somebody who had an EFCC case and was charged to court could still contest an election and become a governor. There was nothing wrong with that. Now, somebody who has not been charged to court but is only being investigated by the EFCC is being denied the right to campaign for votes because the EFCC is investigating the person?”
Wike further argued that even a person serving a prison sentence could express support for a political candidate 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 vote,” he said.
He also referred to an unnamed person accused of involvement in a coup plot, questioning why an individual under EFCC investigation should be barred from campaigning when others facing serious allegations had participated in political activities.
“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,” Wike said.
Wike’s comments followed controversy over Edu’s inclusion in the campaign structure for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
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