Tinubu Drafts Sacked Minister to Lead 2027 Women’s Push — 1 Big Gamble
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Betta Edu, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to head women’s mobilisation for his 2027 re-election campaign, a move that has sparked immediate backlash due to her ongoing corruption probe.
Edu was sacked in January 2024 after being accused of directing public funds into a private bank account, and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is still investigating the case [226693]. The appointment was confirmed in a statement from the campaign organisation, with Edu expected to coordinate women’s groups nationwide as the campaign begins full operations in the coming weeks [226693]. Neither the presidency nor Edu has commented on the criticism from opposition figures questioning the decision to place a minister under investigation at the centre of political operations [226693].
The campaign council is also undergoing a broader shake-up, with early leaks showing that several long-time allies, including Senator George Akume and Minister Festus Keyamo, are absent from key roles [226160]. New faces have been placed in strategic positions, and the inclusion of controversial figures has stirred debate [226160]. Observers say the omissions signal a cooling of ties with loyalists as Tinubu recalibrates his support base ahead of a tough re-election battle [226160]. The full campaign team list has not been officially confirmed, with an announcement expected in the coming months [226160].
In a separate development, Dr. Mary Idele has thanked the president for naming her Secretary of the Women Mobilisation Directorate, pledging to build a strong grassroots network to rally women voters for the re-election bid [226147].