The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the composition of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council.
According to the opposition party, the council is a “rehabilitation centre” for individuals facing unresolved corruption allegations.
The party said the inclusion of some former government officials in the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council raised questions about the government’s handling of corruption cases involving politically exposed persons.
The ADC, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, specifically questioned the presence of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, and former Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Ngozi Olejeme, in the campaign structure.
Edu was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 following controversy surrounding an attempted transfer of N585 million from the National Social Investment Programme Agency account into a private account. Olejeme, on the other hand, has faced prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged financial offences.
The ADC challenged the Federal Government to explain whether the cases involving the two former officials and others associated with the campaign council had been resolved.
“If they have been cleared, the government should show how and when and by whom they were cleared,” Abdullahi said.
The opposition party alleged that investigations involving politically connected individuals under the Tinubu administration had increasingly been allowed to lose public attention, with some of those involved later returning to prominent positions in government or politics.
The ADC argued that the development raised concerns about the administration’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring accountability, particularly as the country prepares for another presidential election.
The party said the 2027 election would effectively become a referendum on Tinubu’s performance since assuming office in May 2023, arguing that political campaigns would not be enough to persuade Nigerians to overlook the economic difficulties confronting them.
“The President may assemble his old friends and political allies, including those carrying unresolved corruption questions, but all of their collective brooms cannot sweep away the grave pains they have brought on the Nigerian people,” the party said.
The ADC said Nigerians were still struggling with high food prices, poverty and the rising cost of living, while individuals close to government allegedly continued to enjoy what it described as “obscene opulence.”
The party also renewed its proposal for targeted subsidies to support domestic fuel production, arguing that such a policy could help reduce petrol prices and ease the pressure on households and businesses.
According to the ADC, its proposed subsidy system would be targeted, capped, budgeted and independently audited, with mechanisms put in place to ensure that every naira spent could be traced and every barrel of crude accounted for.
The party also dismissed criticism from the Federal Government that Nigeria could not afford such intervention, arguing that the administration should first account for the cost of what it described as its “wrong-headed policies.”
The ADC said its proposal formed part of what it called the “Atiku solution” to the economic challenges facing the country.
The criticism came after President Tinubu formally constituted the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections, with former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, appointed as Director-General.
The composition of the council was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Under the arrangement, Tinubu will serve as Chairman of the campaign council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as Vice Chairmen.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and a prominent APC figure, will coordinate the campaign as Director-General, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, will serve as Secretary.
The APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, and Hadiza Bala-Usman were named Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively.
The council also includes several senior political figures who will serve as advisers to Tinubu. They include former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba; former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha; former APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.
The campaign council further appointed senior party and government officials to oversee its operations across the country.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were appointed Deputy Directors-General for the campaign in the southern and northern parts of the country.
They will work with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Jibril Barau in coordinating activities in the two zones.