Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has warned that the refusal of political appointees to resign before pursuing their ambitions may result in the nullification of APC primaries.
“Therefore, the risk they run at the end of it all if the court does find that the National Assembly was well within its rights to make such a provision that you are contesting an election while still a political appointee, then you are at a very serious risk of losing your election bid,” Mr Gbajabiamila reasoned.
“And not only that, you as a person also put the party you belong to at risk,” added Mr Gbajabiamila while speaking Thursday on a Channels TV programme.
Justice minister Abubakar Malami and minister of labour Chris Ngige, seeking to contest in the 2023 general elections, said they would not resign their appointment, citing the expungement of section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, which states that “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.”
Transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi and junior education minister Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba also aspire to contest in the 2023 general elections.
Mr Gbajabiamila condemned their obstinacy.
“There are a number of people who have been mischievous. Some appointees have resigned their appointments to seek election, while there are some who remain obstinate, for want of a better word,” stressed the speaker.
According to him, under the amended act, a court decision is pending “that says there is no provision on this.”
“During our conversation, we have said that the adjudication by the court should not be executed as of yet,” Mr Gbajabiamila noted. “Then there has also been an appeal by the National Assembly to set it aside.”
