ABUJA, NIGERIA — Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has strongly defended the inclusion of individuals undergoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign structure.
Speaking during a live media parley aired on Channels Television on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the former Rivers State governor argued that an investigation does not equal a conviction. He added that even incarcerated individuals retain the right to express political preferences and canvass support.
Core Points from Wike’s Defense
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Double Standard Criticism: Wike accused media commentators and opposition figures of hypocrisy, pointing out that individuals undergoing active EFCC court trials have historically contested and won gubernatorial and legislative elections in Nigeria.
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Presumption of Innocence: The FCT Minister stressed that an administrative probe by an investigative agency cannot legally strip a citizen of their fundamental political rights or bar them from participating in internal campaign committees.
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The “Prisoner” Analogy: To illustrate his point on political endorsement rights, Wike argued that a person serving a prison sentence can still endorse or tell visitors to vote for a specific candidate.
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Historical Precedents: He cited past political figures accused of serious allegations, including alleged coup plotters and politicians facing multi-billion naira EFCC charges, who actively participated in presidential campaign councils without constitutional hindrance.
“You were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case in a campaign council… Now, somebody cannot be in a campaign to canvass for votes, but somebody who has an EFCC case in court can contest an election and become a Governor? … Listen, even a prisoner can tell a visitor, ‘My brother, I want you to support so-and-so candidate.’ A prisoner has canvassed for votes.”
— Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory
