Mahdi Shehu condemns Betta Edu's APC 2027 campaign role amid fraud allegations
Mahdi Shehu, social commentator and anti-corruption campaigner, criticised the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu in the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 campaign council, citing allegations of multi‑billion naira fraud against her. He made the remarks in a post on his official X handle on Sunday, August 23, 2026, following the Presidency’s release on Saturday of the full list of 223 council members, where Edu appears as number 97. Shehu argued that appointing someone facing pending allegations involving billions of naira undermines public trust and signals that criminal records are rewarded in Nigerian politics. He contrasted this with the treatment of whistleblower Halima Shehu, former NSIPA head, who raised similar fraud concerns and was allegedly blackmailed, highlighting a pattern of impunity for the powerful and retaliation against accountability advocates. The controversy raises questions about the APC’s vetting process and the broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic standards ahead of the 2027 elections. Voters may want to scrutinise campaign finance and integrity pledges from parties, and consider how allegations of corruption influence candidate selection. Will you demand greater transparency from political parties about the backgrounds of their campaign teams, or support stronger sanctions for officials facing serious fraud allegations?