Some ministers in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari eyeing elective posts in 2023 remained in their offices as of Sunday, further deepening the confusion over their participation in their partys primaries at the end of the month.
The governing All Progressives Congress, (APC), which has the president as the apex leader, had directed ambitious appointees at federal and state levels to resign their offices a month before the partys primaries.
While there has been noticeable compliance at the State level, appointees at the federal level, especially those serving in President Buharis cabinet, have refused to quit.
The president has been publicly silent over their decision to stay in office and pursue their ambitions, though he had strongly objected to possible disenfranchisement through legislation.
Three of his ministers, Rotimi Amaechi (Transport), Chris Ngige, (Labour and Employment), and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba (State- Education), are aspiring to be president. Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has declared for Kebbi State governorship.
The governorship primaries hold 17 days from now.
With the presidential primaries scheduled for May 30 through May 31, the partys guidelines, which compelled resignation a month before, have now been observed in the breach by the ministers by their refusal to step down at the weekend.
A counsel for the National Assembly, Kayode Ajulo, in the appeal against the Umuahia courts ruling, asked the appointees to thread with caution as the constitution may not end up providing the succour they assumed.
According to Ajulo, I am a leading counsel for the National Assembly in the appeal before the Court of Appeal, Owerri. So, Im being careful about what I say. But I must point out that by the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal, the execution of the judgment of the lower court has been stayed.
It means that the Electoral Act is still the way the National Assembly passed it. Yes, the constitution does not specify the kind of election and that can be an alumni election, association election, primary election, general election, or any other kind of election.
