New APC guidelines gives Amaechi, Ngige 72 hours to resign or forfeit 2023 ambition – Nexus News
A new guideline released by the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday has directed all political appointees who wish to participate in its primary elections at all levels to resign at least 30 days after the conduct of the primaries.
The new directive automatically leaves some of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointees like Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his Labor counterpart, Chris Ngige, who are aspiring for the 2023 presidency, with just three days to leave office or forget their ambitions.
This is due to the fact that the APC primary election for the presidency which according to the leading party’s timetable has been slated to hold between May 30 and June 1.
By implication, the new directives have also put paid to the ambitions of other candidates for different elective seats who have not resigned from their offices as of yesterday (April 25).
Governorship, Senate, federal and state Assembly primary elections to vote APC aspirants for the general elections, according to the party’s timetable, will take place between May 18 and 23, meaning that appointees for such positions who are yet to leave office by today would have lost whatever was left of their chances to contest in the primaries.
An official of the party who requested not to be mentioned, last night, affirmed the development. He stated that presidential aspirants still occupying various appointive positions have up till the 30th of this month to leave their positions.
The statement further explained that governorship candidates occupying appointive positions who have not resigned before the 18th of this month are disqualified from contesting for the governorship of their respective states.
“For those aspiring for presidential primaries, they have just four days from today (Tuesday) to step down because the Electoral Act stipulates that they must do so 30 days to the presidential primary on May 30.
“Those angling for the governorship who have not done so are out of it because the governorship primaries are scheduled to hold on the 18th of next month. This is in line with laid down rules and regulations,” he said.
WITH this new directives and stipulated time frame for resignation, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who is disclosed to be interested in the governorship position of his home state of Kebbi, is no longer has eligible, as the new guideline has effectively terminated his ambition.
Section 3(i) of the APC final guidelines for the conduct of primaries, states: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for the purpose of the nomination of candidates. Any political office holder interested in contesting for an elective office shall leave office 30 days prior to the date of election or party primary for the office sought.”
