2023: Buhari’s ministers refuse to resign
Two ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration have downplayed calls on political appointees to resign to enable them take part in primaries of political parties, next month, saying the calls were unconstitutional, in spite of the provision of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022) as amended.
The Electoral Act provision is still subject of litigation at the Appeal Court.
Minister of State for Education, Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba, who declared his intention to contest for the office of the president in the 2023 general election; and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who is also running for the presidency, pooh-poohed the calls, yesterday.
While Nwajiuba said that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) permitted aspirants to resign 30 days to the election, Ngige said Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 had been struck down by the court.
They spoke as attempts by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to get appointees eyeing electoral positions to quit their appointments on or before April 30 were aborted.
Nwajiuba ruled out the possibility of resigning his position ahead of of the APC presidential primaries billed for May 30 to June 1, 2022.
The presidential poll is fixed for February 25, 2023.The minister declared his stand yesterday evening in Abuja when he received the APC Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms, from a group Project Nigeria, which purchased the forms for him
Nwajiuba said he accepted to run in order to build on the solid foundations laid by the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration.
Responding to questions on his fate as a minister following his open declaration to vie for elective office, Nwajiuba said he would only resign 30 days to the presidential election as stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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