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Social commentator and anti-corruption campaigner, Mahdi Shehu, has questioned the decision by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to include former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in its campaign council for the 2027 general elections.

Shehu raised the concern in a post shared on his official X handle on Sunday.

The social commentator questioned the rationale behind Edu’s inclusion in the campaign structure, particularly in view of the allegations of financial misconduct previously levelled against her.

His reaction followed the release by the Presidency on Saturday of the complete list of members appointed to the APC campaign council.

The council comprises 223 names drawn from different sections of the party and political structure.

Reacting specifically to Edu’s inclusion as number 97 on the list, Shehu questioned the criteria used in selecting individuals for the campaign team.

He argued that the presence of individuals facing serious allegations could raise questions about the message the party intends to communicate during the 2027 campaign.

“When the likes of Betta Edu, number 97 on the list, are part of the campaign team of APC, then one can predict the contents of the campaign arising from the well-documented attitude and trademark of the characters,” Shehu said.

Shehu further questioned how an individual facing allegations involving billions of naira could be considered suitable for a prominent role in the ruling party’s campaign structure.

“With pending alleged multi-billion fraud and theft and yet able to be nominated as a member of the campaign council, Betta Edu has gone to prove one thing: criminal record is an asset and crime has a special 7-star accommodation,” he said.

According to Shehu, the development exposes what he described as contradictions within Nigeria’s democratic system.

He also criticised what he considered a lack of accountability and public sensitivity in the way political appointments and campaign roles are handled.

Shehu drew attention to the case of Halima Shehu, a former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Authority, NSIPA.

He said Halima Shehu had raised concerns over alleged financial misconduct but was subsequently subjected to attacks.

“Nigeria’s democracy is full of irony and shamelessness, where people like Halima Shehu, who blew a whistle of fraud, are being blackmailed,” he said.

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