•As CSOs, opposition parties fault composition •List shows party’s ‘abiding faith’ in corruption —NDC •Campaign Council membership, reflection of Tinubu’s mindset, says Turaki-led PDP

The All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat has dismissed as fake, media report that President Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of the list of members of his Presidential Campaign Council, which was made public on Saturday.

National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, Felix Morka, made the clarification in a telephone interview with Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday.

The list, which was released by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has been trailed by public criticism, fuelling speculation that President Tinubu has demanded its withdrawal and review.

Morka, however, told Nigerian Tribune that the list subsists.

He said: ”The list is as it was published. Have you seen a revised list? Nothing has changed,” he told Nigerian Tribune.

Investigation by Nigerian Tribune revealed that opposition parties have continued to express strong reservations about the list with some accusing the APC-led administration of indifference to corruption.

The National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Osa Director, accused the ruling party of blurring the lines between governance and partisan politics.

Director particularly faulted the inclusion of individuals facing corruption-related allegations, including former Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Betta Edu, and former Chairperson of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Board, Ngozi Olojeme.

He also questioned the appointment of the Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, as Deputy Director of Fundraising in the campaign council, arguing that the role raises concerns about the separation of public responsibilities from partisan fundraising.

“It is disappointing to see that the APC cannot differentiate between governance and politics. They cannot distinguish between public funds and private money. That is why the country is where it is today,” Director said.

According to him, the composition of the campaign council was consistent with what he described as the APC’s longstanding relationship with corruption.

“We at NDC are not surprised that the APC campaign council is populated by those removed from office for corruption and those they intend to use to divert state funds for the general elections, especially the presidential election.

“APC has an abiding faith with corruption. The cardinal principle driving the government is corruption. But one day, they will be made to account,” he said.

However, former National Vice Chairman, South-South, of the APC, Honourable Hillard Eta, differed.

Eta, who is the Chairman of the Board of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said the inclusion of the likes of Beta Edu and Ngozi Olojeme was a non-issue as they have not been convicted of corruption.

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He said: “When did allegations become conviction? Are we not applying the law that says no one is proven guilty until convicted? I can’t find any convict on that list.

“Politics isn’t a church. People faulting that list should bring out their own.

Pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie, equally picked holes in the involvement of the Executive Chairman of NRS and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) in the campaign rulers.

He also picked a hole in President Tinubu’s direct involvement in his campaign team, submitting that it would distract him from governance.

He said: “The inclusion of Zacch Adedeji is wrong. The man shouldn’t have been dragged to that committee. The AGF and Minister of Justice shouldn’t be there.

Corruption allegations don’t amount to pronouncement of guilt -LP

In its reaction, the Labour Party (LP) said allegations of corruption or ongoing investigations against individuals did not amount to a pronouncement of guilt, urging Nigerians to allow due process to take its course in the controversy surrounding the appointment of persons listed in presidential campaign council of the APC, who are facing corruption trial.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Ken Asogwa, said an accused person remained innocent until proven guilty under Nigerian law.

The Labour Party spokesman also raised concerns over the reported appointment of the head of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to lead data analysis and collection for the campaign, noting that the concern was not about the political affiliation of the individuals involved but the sensitivity of the offices they occupied and the public resources and information entrusted to them.

“These are the areas I believe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take a second look at,” Asogwa said.

“Even where no wrongdoing has occurred, the appearance or potential for a conflict of interest can undermine public confidence in government institutions,” he added.

A former member of the 9th House of Representatives and chieftain of the NDC, Hon. Sergius Ogun, said the composition of the campaign structure reflected what he described as the failure of the ruling party to demonstrate a genuine commitment to fighting corruption.

He took particular exception to the inclusion of Dr Adedeji in the campaign fundraising structure.

He asked: “You talked about the NRS chairman so what do you expect him to do as a Fundraising Committee chairman? To grant waivers to major taxpayers so that they can put the money into the campaign. What else?”

Also reacting, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and Head of Transparency International’s Chapter in Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed concern over what he described as integrity, conflict-of-interest and institutional-credibility issues arising from some of the appointments.

Rafsanjani said: “Our concern is about integrity, conflict of interest, institutional credibility and the message Nigeria’s political leadership is sending at a time when the country is struggling to rebuild public confidence in the fight against corruption.”

He specifically called for the removal of serving heads of sensitive regulatory, revenue and enforcement institutions from partisan campaign fundraising structures, arguing that such institutions must maintain both actual and perceived neutrality.

He urged Adedeji to withdraw from the campaign fundraising responsibility while remaining NRS Executive Chairman, or for the APC to appoint another person.

Meanwhile, the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on its part, said the composition of the membership of the council didn’t come as a surprise because it reflected the mindset of President Bola Tinubu and his handlers.

The National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, reacting on behalf of the Tanimu Turaki-led INWC, stated, “The inclusion of people of doubtful character in the presidential campaign leadership is a reflection of the mindset of the President and his handlers.

“It shows that they don’t pay a premium to character, more like birds of a feather flocking together.

“The right-minded people in our country are very appalled by these absurd nominations into a committee to plan and execute the reelection of a president,” he said.

Similarly, the Lagos State chapter of the PDP criticised the composition of the Campaign Committee, describing the inclusion of some public officials and individuals with unresolved controversies as a “slap in the face of Nigerians”.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Christopher Odianarewo, said the development had raised concerns about the alleged blurring of the distinction between government institutions and partisan political structures.

He argued that the NRS, as a public institution responsible for tax collection, should maintain neutrality and public confidence rather than be perceived as being aligned with a political party.

He said: “How can the Chief Executive of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), an agency responsible for collecting taxes from hardworking Nigerians and businesses, openly hobnob with or feature prominently on a partisan campaign council?

Also, the Progressive Youths for Makinde’s Presidency 2027 (PYFMP2027) has criticised the campaign structure, questioning the credibility and public records of some of the personalities named on the list.

The group described the campaign structure as a “curious collection” that had raised questions about public trust, accountability and the quality of leadership the ruling party intends to present to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group’s Deputy Head, Media, Mr Martins James, PYFMP2027, said a presidential campaign team should comprise individuals whose records demonstrate integrity, competence and accountability.