Some ministers have heeded the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that all cabinet members vying for elective offices in 2023 should resign before May 16.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu and Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, have resigned.
The three ministers had obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the presidential election.
Dr. Chris Ngige, Labour and Employment, on Wednesday said he would consult the president and his kinsmen before he takes the next step.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi have obtained the presidential forms.
Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogar, has obtained APC governorship nomination forms to contest the Abia State gubernatorial election; while the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has declared his intention to vie for the APC governorship ticket in Kebbi State.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Paulline Tallen, had also declared her ambition to contest for the senatorial seat in Plateau State.
The President’s directive was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.
Mohammed said only Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is an elected official, was exempted.
Nwajiuba’s resignation was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Wednesday.
READ ALSO: Buhari orders Amaechi, Malami, Ngige, others to resign
Nwajiuba had picked the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the 2023 presidency.
Akpabio said he has not withdrawn from the presidential race.
His spokesman, Jackson Udom, confirmed that the minister has resigned.
“Akpabio has resigned his appointment as Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry and will soon submit his nomination form in line with his party’s guidelines,” Udom said.
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