Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Betta Edu, has distributed N50,000 each to about 500 market women, petty traders and artisans in Cross River State, while declaring a target of 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Edu made the announcement on Sunday in Calabar at an empowerment programme organised at the instance of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. Beneficiaries also received business and household items, including deep freezers, blenders and toasters.
Edu, who is Co-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) women mobilisation directorate, said the cash was meant to help small-scale traders with limited capital to grow their businesses.
“Some of them are selling trays that have just N5,000 worth of things on them, while some of them have trays with just N10,000 worth of items on them,” she said.
“So we are giving these sets of petty traders N50,000 each so that they can expand their business, build on it, so things can get better for them and their children.”
The event doubled as a political rally, as Edu urged residents to back Tinubu, Cross River Governor Bassey Otu and other APC candidates in the next election.
She expressed confidence that the state would deliver over 1.5 million votes to the ruling party, adding that the women’s directorate was setting up support structures nationwide.
The combination of cash support and an open electoral appeal raises questions about the line between empowerment programmes and campaign mobilisation. However, there was no indication that beneficiaries were required to support the APC in return for the assistance.
Edu said the programme would be extended to other parts of the state, with Abi Local Government Area expected to benefit in November or December, and the northern senatorial district in January.
Tinubu suspended Edu as minister in January 2024 over a controversy involving a request to move ₦585 million of ministry funds into a private bank account. He subsequently directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the transaction and other financial dealings in the ministry.
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