ADC blasts Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign Council as ‘Rehabilitation Centre for Corruption Suspects’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the composition of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council, describing it as a “rehabilitation centre for corruption suspects” and questioning the status of unresolved corruption cases involving some of its members.

The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Saturday, said the campaign council, which should ordinarily serve as a political mobilisation team, had instead raised fresh questions about public accountability.

Abdullahi singled out former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu and former Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Chairman Ngozi Olejeme among those whose inclusion, according to the party, required explanations from the government.

Edu was suspended by President Tinubu following controversy over an attempted transfer of N585 million into a private account, while Olejeme has faced prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of financial malpractice.

The party questioned what had happened to the cases involving individuals facing such allegations and challenged the government to explain whether they had been cleared and, if so, when, how and by whom.

“It has become a familiar pattern under this administration for investigations into financial crimes to quietly disappear only for the accused to suddenly reappear in a different official role,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC argued that corruption allegations appeared to have an “expiry date” under the current administration, alleging that politically useful individuals could eventually return to prominent positions without previous questions about their conduct being adequately addressed.

The opposition party also framed the 2027 presidential election as a referendum on Tinubu’s performance in office, saying the composition of the campaign council would not shield the administration from scrutiny over its record.

According to Abdullahi, political allies and campaign structures would not be enough to erase what the party described as the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians.

“2027 will be a referendum on President Tinubu’s record,” the ADC said, arguing that the government would have to defend its policies and their impact on citizens at the ballot box.

The party particularly criticised the administration over the cost of living crisis, poverty and the removal of fuel subsidies, accusing the government of asking Nigerians to endure economic hardship while those connected to power allegedly continued to enjoy what it described as excessive privileges.

The ADC also restated its support for what it called the “Atiku solution” of subsidising fuel production as a means of reducing petrol prices and easing pressure on household incomes.

Abdullahi said the party had observed government-backed criticism of its proposal for a targeted, capped, budgeted and independently audited subsidy intervention.

The party maintained that Nigeria could afford such an intervention if public funds were properly accounted for, insisting that every naira spent should be traceable and every barrel of crude accounted for.

The ADC challenged the Tinubu administration to account for what it described as the cost of its economic policies before arguing that the country could not afford measures aimed at protecting struggling families.