Buhari wakes up after months of dithering
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari is fed up with the shenanigans of Ministers and other political appointees angling for elective office in 2023 and has roared with anger for them to resign “with immediate effect” to continue their quest or be sacked.
He gave the order on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Aso Rock, where he commended Education Minister of State Emeka Nwajiuba for doing the right thing by resigning to contest to avoid conflict of interest.
Other All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirants expected to be affected by the directive include
- Rotimi Amaechi – Transportation Minister
- Godswill Akpabio – Niger Delta Affairs Minister
- Abubakar Malami – Attorney General and Justice Minister
- Chris Ngige – Labour and Productivity Minister
- Ogbonnaya Onu – Science and Technology Minister
- Timipreye Sylva – Petroleum Resources Minister of State
- Godwin Emefiele – Central Bank of Nigeria Governor
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Seeking further clarification
Other Ministers seeking to be Governors, Senators, and House of Representatives members are trying to seek clarifications if they are affected.
A visibly angry Buhari gave the quit notice at the tail end of the FEC meeting, per reporting by The Nation.
He said he has received the resignation letter of Nwajiuba and “I expect other members of this council seeking to be President to resign with immediate effect.”
A source in the cabinet said: “We were not clear if this directive will affect other ministers aspiring to be governors, Senators and House of Representatives members. We are expecting more clarifications soon.”
Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed clarified after the meeting that Buhari ordered all FEC members contesting for elective offices in the 2023 to submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday 16 May.
The order excludes Vice President Yemi Osinbajo because he is an elected member of the cabinet, Mohammed explained.
He said if the need arises, the directive may also involve political appointees.
Appeal Court ruling
The news broke after the Court of Appeal in Abuja earlier on Wednesday set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Umuahia which voided Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The section says political appointees cannot vote for someone or be voted for at party conventions and primaries. If they do so without resigning their posts, those elected at the conventions and primaries will be disqualified for the office they seek.
But the court added that Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act is unconstitutional because it violates Section 42 (1)(a) of the Constitution and denies a class of citizens their right to participate in election.
The case is expected to go all the way to the Supreme Court, which may nullify or uphold the judgment.