Explosive Allegation: Tinubu's Campaign Council Accused of Harbouring Corruption Suspects

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has leveled serious accusations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nascent 2027 campaign council, describing it as a "rehabilitation centre" for individuals facing unresolved corruption allegations. In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party also declared that the upcoming 2027 general election would serve as a crucial referendum on the performance of the Tinubu administration over its three-year tenure.

A central point of contention for the ADC is the inclusion of prominent figures such as former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, and former Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ngozi Olejeme, in the campaign council. The opposition party has explicitly called upon the Federal Government to clarify whether the corruption-related cases involving these former officials have been fully resolved. The ADC questioned whether their inclusion signifies a pardon for officials accused of corruption, primarily due to their political affiliations.

The party unequivocally labeled the council's composition, which it referred to as a political task team, as appearing more like a "rehabilitation system for individuals carrying unresolved questions of corruption and public accountability." Specific examples cited include Betta Edu, who was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 amidst controversy surrounding an alleged attempt to transfer N585 million in public funds into a private account. Ngozi Olejeme's inclusion also drew scrutiny, given her ongoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial misconduct.

The ADC demanded transparency from the government regarding the status of cases involving these two women, along with any other members of the campaign council who may be facing corruption allegations. The party posed a direct challenge: "If they have been cleared, the government should show how and when and by whom they were cleared." It further alleged a concerning pattern where investigations into financial crimes under the current administration seemingly disappear, only for the individuals implicated to later re-emerge in significant political or official positions. The ADC asserted that corruption allegations appear to have acquired an "expiry date" under the present government, implying that politically valuable individuals are no longer held accountable for past allegations.

Beyond the issue of corruption, the ADC reiterated its stance that the 2027 election will ultimately be a judgment on President Tinubu’s overall record in office. The party contended that while the President might gather his "old friends and political allies," including those with unresolved corruption questions, their collective efforts would be insufficient to mitigate the "grave pains" inflicted upon the Nigerian populace. The ADC directly accused the administration of failing to adequately address the escalating cost-of-living crisis and pervasive poverty, contrasting this with allegations that politically connected individuals continue to enjoy opulent lifestyles. It highlighted that Nigerians have been repeatedly asked to make sacrifices over the past three years, while those linked to the government purportedly continue to benefit from public resources, proclaiming, "The time for reckoning has come."

In a related development, the ADC also reaffirmed its support for Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to subsidize fuel production as a viable strategy to alleviate petrol prices and the broader cost of living. The party championed this proposal as being "targeted, capped, budgeted and independently audited," dismissing criticisms that the country could not afford such an intervention. The ADC argued that the more pertinent question was whether the government could truly afford to continue allowing struggling families to bear the immense burden of economic hardship. Advocating for accountability, the party stated, "Our proposal is straightforward: every naira must be traceable and every barrel accounted for." The ADC concluded by challenging the Tinubu administration to provide a comprehensive account of the true cost of its policies, simultaneously alleging governmental tolerance of waste and profligacy.