Betta Edu: Why my name was not on APC women campaign team list

Betta Edu, women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says it will be “abnormal” for her name to be listed on the party’s women campaign team.

The APC had recently released its list of members for the women presidential campaign team, with Aisha Buhari, first lady, named as grand patron.

Oluremi Tinubu, senator representing Lagos central, and Nana Shettima, wife of the APC vice-presidential candidate, were listed as chairman and co-chairman, respectively, while Zainab Ibrahim, the APC deputy national women leader is among those chosen to coordinate activities in states not controlled by the APC.

Following the development, the All Progressives Congress support group (APCSG), a group within the party, had claimed that Edu was excluded from the list.

But making a clarification on Tuesday, the APC women leader said because of her position in the party, her job is to supervise activities for the presidential campaign.

“It is really very simple and straight. I am Dr. Betta Edu and I am the APC national women leader, the number one woman in APC — the ruling party, the largest party in Africa,” she said.

“And so, it would be abnormal to have my name in any list under other persons who would definitely, should ordinarily, be under me, in the party.

“So, really, my role is actually supervisory. Anything that has to do with women, their mobilisation, their engagements, whatever it is, I am supposed to spearhead all of it. So, this is just a support team for the main campaign which will be unveiled soon.

“Remember, this is the women’s presidential campaign team. It’s not the council. So, all of these are all under the APC as a party. We are the vehicles, then we have passengers that drive.”