2026: Reps members raise conflict-of-interest concerns over Tinubu’s campaign council

Some members of the House of Representatives, operating under the banner of the Save Democracy Group (SDG), have criticised the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, warning that the involvement of senior public officials could blur the line between government responsibilities and partisan politics.

The group said that while political parties and individuals have the constitutional right to participate in political activities, public institutions must remain insulated from partisan interests.

The lawmakers’ reaction followed the release of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on Saturday, 22 August, ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office.

The council is chaired by Mr Tinubu, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as vice chairmen. Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was named Director-General, and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was named Secretary.

The expanded council includes serving government officials and party figures assigned to various directorates, including finance, fundraising, media, mobilisation and election planning.

Among those listed are the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, whose roles in the campaign’s fundraising and financial structures have attracted particular concern.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its leader, Awaji-Inombek Abiante (NDC, Rivers), Abubakar Kusada (APC, Katsina) and Mansur Jega (ADC, Kebbi), the lawmakers said the composition of the campaign council raises concerns about the politicisation of institutions expected to serve the Nigerian state impartially.

The exact number of lawmakers in the Save Nigeria Group could not be ascertained, but Mr Kusada’s signature suggests it is bipartisan. Mr Kusada is a member of the ruling APC, which controls the two chambers of the National Assembly.

The group’s concerns centred particularly on the involvement of the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in the campaign structure.

Mr Musa was named Secretary of the Security and Intelligence committee, while Mr Matawalle was appointed Deputy Director of the Security and Intelligence committee.

It argued that the two ministers occupy positions with direct responsibility for national defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria and should, therefore, avoid roles that could create the impression that the military establishment is aligned with a political party.

“The issue is not whether ministers have political rights. They do. The issue is whether officials responsible for the nation’s defence architecture should simultaneously occupy senior positions in a campaign structure,” the group said.

According to the lawmakers, the situation creates an institutional conflict and could undermine public confidence in the political neutrality of the country’s defence establishment.

“The Nigerian military belongs to the Nigerian state, not to the ruling political party,” they said.

The group noted that the involvement of senior defence officials was particularly concerning given Nigeria’s security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

It urged President Bola Tinubu and the two ministers to ensure that partisan political activities do not compromise, or create the perception of compromising, the neutrality and professionalism of the Armed Forces.

Tax authority’s involvement questioned

The lawmakers also questioned the inclusion of the country’s chief tax administrator in the campaign council, particularly in its fundraising structure.

They said the role creates a potential conflict of interest because the nation’s tax administration is expected to operate impartially and independently of partisan political interests.

“The tax system must never be perceived as an instrument for financing, facilitating or advancing the electoral interests of the governing party,” the group said.

The lawmakers said taxpayers should have confidence that tax administration would be conducted fairly, regardless of political affiliation.

They added that the issue was particularly important as Nigeria implements a new tax framework and seeks to improve compliance and revenue mobilisation.

According to the group, the country’s chief tax administrator should focus on implementing tax reforms, strengthening revenue collection, and maintaining public confidence in the tax system, rather than participating in partisan fundraising.

“The involvement of the nation’s chief tax administrator in partisan fundraising creates an avoidable perception that must be addressed,” it said.

The group also warned against the possibility of public revenue, official influence, institutional access or other government resources becoming indirectly linked to partisan campaign financing.

“Public revenue must never become campaign funds,” it said.

Budget Office role

The lawmakers further criticised the inclusion of the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation as Secretary Finance/Treasurer of the campaign council.

They described the Budget Office as a key component of Nigeria’s public financial management system, noting its role in supporting the preparation and implementation of the national budget.

The group said the office and its leadership must maintain public confidence in their professionalism, independence and impartiality.

“The officer responsible for helping to design and manage the nation’s budget should not simultaneously be seen as an officer responsible for managing the finances of a political campaign,” it said.

According to the group, combining both responsibilities creates an unnecessary conflict in institutional perception.

Group demands withdrawal

The Save Democracy Group said its concerns went beyond the APC and were fundamentally about protecting the integrity of public institutions.

It argued that when senior officials responsible for defence, taxation, budgeting and other sensitive national functions become campaign operatives, the distinction between government and party machinery becomes increasingly blurred.

“When senior officials responsible for defence, taxation, budgeting and other sensitive national institutions simultaneously become campaign operatives, the boundary between government and party becomes dangerously blurred,” it said.

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The lawmakers consequently called on all serving public officials heading or occupying sensitive national institutions to withdraw from the APC Presidential Campaign Council and concentrate on their official responsibilities.

Alternatively, they said officials who wish to take up active partisan campaign roles should first resign or relinquish their public appointments.

“A person should not simultaneously serve as a senior custodian of the Nigerian state and as an active financial or political operative of a presidential campaign,” the group said.