2023: Nwajiuba resigns as Buhari reads riot act to political appointees

By our reporter| Minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Wednesday, resigned from his position to contest the 2023 presidency.

The resignation of the minister, who on April declared his intention to contest the presidency on the platform of the ruling APC, was announced at the federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nwajiuba, according to ministry sources tendered his resignation on April 28.

“He actually resigned effective April 28th after accepting to run,” the source disclosed.

“The president approved his resignation upon resumption from the Eid break on May 3rd and then travelled out.

“Nwajiuba left the announcement for the president to do as protocol demands. The president announced his resignation today at FEC before giving the order.

President Buhari had earlier on Wednesday directed all ministers in his cabinet, who are interested in contesting in the 2023 elections, to resign on or before May 6.

Tolu Ogunlesi, an aide to the president made the disclosure via a tweet on his verified Twitter handle @toluogunlesi.

“Just in: All members of President Buhari’s cabinet vying for public office will have to resign on or before May 16, 2022,” he tweeted.

Buhari’s directive came on the heels of the controversy surrounding section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, currently being challenged in court.

The contentious section states: “No political appointee at any level shall be a 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.”

Among president Buhari’s appointees seeking elective offices include, Rotimi Amaechi, transportation minister; Ogbonnaya Onu, science and technology minister; Godswill Akpabio, Niger Delta affairs minister, and Chris Ngige, labour minister, all running for president.

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and justice minister, and
Uche Ogar, minister of state for mines and steel, are pursuing governorship bids, while Pauline Tallen, minister of women affairs, is seeking a senatorial seat.