The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has given cabinet ministers and other executive appointees at both the state and federal levels a deadline to resign their appointments if they intend to participate in the party’s upcoming round of primary elections as part of a last-ditch effort to avoid any possible violation of the Electoral Act.
The appointees now have till Saturday to leave their current positions, according to the set of norms for the primaries.
According to Section 3(i) of the APC Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2023 General Elections, it states; ”No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for the purpose of the nomination of candidates.
Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) stipulates that political appointees, including 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.
“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.”
The party’s special presidential convention is set to take place from Monday, May 30 to Wednesday, June 1.
As a result, the appointees now have until April 30 to vacate their positions.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, and Chris Nigige, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, have both stated their intention to run for president. While, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami intends to become Kebbi State Governor.
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