The national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ordered all executive appointees both at the federal and state levels to resign their appointments by Saturday if they intend to participate in the party’s coming primary election. This is to avoid contravening the electoral act.
Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) stipulates that political appointees, provides that ministers/commissioners and special advisers, must quit their offices to be eligible to participate either as delegates or contestants at the convention of their respective political parties.
Specifically, the section states that “No political appointee at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”
This section of the electoral act is also in tune with Section 3(i) of the APC Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2023 General Elections states that “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for the purpose of the nomination of candidates.
Any political office holder interested in contesting for an elective office shall leave Office 30 days prior to the date of election or party primary for the office sought.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in its electoral timetable, has directed that political parties have till June 3 to file their nominations for the general election. That is 37 days from today.
At least two serving ministers are known to be interested in contesting the presidency, and they include minister of rransportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige.
Five serving ministers including The minister of education – Adamu Adamu, minister of state (education) – Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, minister of communication and digital economy – Isa A Pantami, minister of youth and Sports development – Sunday Dare, and the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice – Abubakar Malami, are said to nurse governorship ambitions in their respective states.
 - Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, minister of communication and digital economy - Isa A Pantami, minister of youth and sports development - Sunday Dare, and the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice - Abubakar Malami, are said to nurse governorship ambitions in their respective states.){kind=link}