The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba has resigned his position just a few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered all political appointees with presidential ambitions to resign with immediate effect.
Emeka Nwajiuba Resigns
KanyiDaily recalls that during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, the president directed that all cabinet members vying for elective offices in the 2023 elections, should tender their resignations on or before May 16, 2022.
While the FEC meeting lasted, Buhari had singled out Nwajiuba for braving the odds to quit to avoid conflict of interest, and said: “I expect other members of this council seeking to be President to resign with immediate effect”
Nwajiuba, who is seeking to run for president on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), resigned from office on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed the minister’s resignation to Channels Television.
Other ministers expected to follow suit include: Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya, who have all joined the presidential race on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Others are Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is seeking to contest governorship position in Kebbi State, Minister of State, Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, who is running for governorship position in Abia State, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Paulline Tallen, who declared her ambition to contest for Senatorial seat in Plateau State.
Buhari’s directive comes after the Appeal Court set aside an earlier judgment against Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 which mandated that political office holders must firstly resign from their positions before they could vie for any elective position.