President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has included former Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) chairman Ngozi Olejeme and former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu among members of the team being assembled for his 2027 re-election campaign.
The appointments have attracted attention because both women have previously been linked to major financial investigations, with Olejeme currently facing trial over alleged fraud involving about ₦1 billion, while Edu has remained associated with an unresolved investigation into an alleged ₦585 million transfer to a private account.
The development comes as the ruling All Progressives Congress intensifies preparations for the 2027 presidential election and begins putting structures in place across the country.
The appointments were contained in the list of officials assigned responsibilities within Tinubu’s re-election campaign structure.
Among the appointments, former Lagos lawmaker James Abiodun Faleke was named deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
Faleke is expected to work with zonal directors as the campaign organisation develops its strategy for the 2027 election.
Olejeme was assigned a role covering the South-South region, placing her within the structure responsible for coordinating campaign activities and mobilisation in the zone.
The inclusion of Olejeme has attracted particular attention because of the long-running corruption case involving her.
Olejeme’s N1 Billion Case
Ngozi Olejeme previously served as chairman of the board of the NSITF.
She was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations involving money laundering, conversion, transfer and possession of proceeds of unlawful activity.
The allegations relate to transactions said to have occurred during her time at the NSITF.
The EFCC accused her of diverting public funds through companies linked to her.
One of the allegations involved the conversion of approximately ₦321.6 million, which was allegedly paid into the account of Adin Miles International Limited at Sterling Bank.
Another count alleged that Olejeme procured an individual, Chuka C. Eze, to convert $2 million into naira for payment to the same company.
Olejeme pleaded not guilty to the charges and has denied the allegations.
The case remains a matter for the courts, meaning the allegations against her have not been established as criminal liability.
The former NSITF chairman’s inclusion in the 2027 campaign structure has consequently generated questions about the political considerations behind the appointment.
Property Forfeiture Proceedings
Olejeme’s legal history also includes previous proceedings concerning assets linked to her.
A Federal High Court had ordered the interim forfeiture of a number of properties connected to her in proceedings initiated by the anti-graft authorities.
The forfeiture proceedings formed part of the broader investigation into allegations concerning funds associated with her time at the NSITF.
The legal process surrounding the properties and the criminal case have remained separate matters, with the courts determining the relevant issues.
Her appointment to a campaign role now places her back in a visible political position ahead of another presidential election.
Betta Edu’s Controversial Exit From Cabinet
Betta Edu’s inclusion has also generated attention because of the controversy that led to her removal from the federal cabinet.
Edu was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation after Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
Her tenure, however, was short-lived.
She was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 after a document emerged showing a request for the transfer of ₦585 million meant for vulnerable groups into a private bank account.
The account was associated with a ministry official involved in the administration of grants for vulnerable groups.
The controversy generated widespread public outrage and prompted the president to direct an investigation.
Edu subsequently appeared before the EFCC for questioning as investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the transaction.
She maintained that the funds were intended for vulnerable Nigerians in several states and that the transaction was connected to the implementation of the government’s humanitarian programmes.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, however, said her office did not process the requested payment into the private account.
Edu was eventually removed from her ministerial position.
The investigation surrounding the matter has remained a significant part of her public record.
A Wider Humanitarian Ministry Investigation
The controversy involving Edu occurred against the backdrop of a much larger investigation into financial activities within the humanitarian affairs sector.
The EFCC and other anti-corruption authorities had also examined allegations involving former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Sadiya Umar-Farouq and former National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu.
The investigations covered billions of naira allegedly moved through accounts connected to government programmes.
The scale of the investigations made the humanitarian affairs ministry one of the major corruption-related controversies inherited and subsequently investigated by the Tinubu administration.
Edu’s case therefore became part of a much wider debate about the management of public funds intended for vulnerable Nigerians.
Political Implications
The decision to include Olejeme and Edu in the 2027 campaign structure is likely to generate political debate as the election approaches.
For the ruling APC, the campaign will require a broad network of politicians, former officials, grassroots organisers and influential figures capable of mobilising support across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
The South-South is particularly important because of its political history and strategic importance in presidential elections.
Olejeme’s role in the zone places her in a position to participate in the mobilisation of support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The appointment also demonstrates the administration’s willingness to draw on experienced political figures despite controversies surrounding some members of the campaign structure.
Questions About Accountability
The inclusion of individuals facing or linked to corruption investigations may nevertheless raise questions among Nigerians about the government’s anti-corruption agenda.
Tinubu came into office promising to strengthen institutions and tackle corruption, while the EFCC has repeatedly maintained that investigations should be conducted without regard to political status.
Supporters of the appointments could argue that allegations should not automatically prevent individuals from participating in political activities, particularly where cases have not resulted in convictions.
Critics, however, may question the optics of giving prominent campaign responsibilities to people whose names remain associated with major financial investigations.
The distinction between an allegation and a conviction remains important.
Neither Olejeme’s alleged ₦1 billion fraud case nor Edu’s ₦585 million controversy should be treated as proof of guilt unless established through the appropriate legal process.
2027 Campaign Machinery Takes Shape
The appointments come as the APC begins to build a detailed campaign structure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The party will need to coordinate activities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while also strengthening its presence at ward and local government levels.
Campaign officials are expected to focus on voter mobilisation, election planning, communication, coordination and monitoring.
The structure will also involve influential politicians who can help deliver support in their respective regions.
Tinubu’s campaign team will face the task of defending the administration’s record while presenting the president as the candidate capable of continuing his programmes beyond 2027.
The opposition, meanwhile, is expected to intensify efforts to challenge the APC’s hold on power.
A Campaign Under Scrutiny
With the 2027 election approaching, every major appointment within the president’s political structure is likely to attract public attention.
The inclusion of Olejeme and Edu ensures that the campaign organisation will face scrutiny not only over its political strategy but also over the backgrounds of the individuals entrusted with key responsibilities.
The controversy surrounding their appointments is likely to continue as the campaign gathers momentum.
For now, both women have been included in Tinubu’s 2027 campaign structure, even as their names remain connected to unresolved financial allegations and investigations.
The appointments underline the increasingly competitive political environment ahead of 2027 and signal that the ruling party is already assembling the machinery it hopes will secure Tinubu another term in office.
