BREAKING: After Court Ruling, Buhari Orders Amaechi, Other Appointees Seeking Elective Offices To Resign

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered his ministers and other of his political appointees seeking elective offices in the 2023 general election to resign. 

This followed a ruling of the Court of Appeal which set aside a judgment of the Federal High Court, Umuahia, voiding the provision of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022.

Buhari’s directive to the political appointees was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, at the State House on Wednesday.

Mohammed spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The mandate I have from the president is to announce that all members of the Federal Executive Council contesting for elective office must resign their ministerial cabinet appointments on or before Monday, the 16th of May, 2022.”

When asked if Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will resign, the minister said:  “The Vice President was elected, he was not appointed.”

So far, ministers who have declared intention to run for political offices include in 2023 include the Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Justice minister and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.