The All Progressive Congress (APC) has called on political appointees who are seeking elective positions during 2023 general election to resign before its primaries scheduled to hold in May, Tribune has reported.
The party’s national publicity secretary, Felix Morka on telephoneon Friday, said they were expected to comply with the amended 2022 Electoral Act recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Section 84 (12): “No political appointee at any level shall be 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.”
Some of those political appointees that have declared to contest political positions are Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who have declared to succeed President Buhari; Attorney general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and Chukuwemeka Nwajiuba, junior Minister for Education.
According to Mr Morka, “The position of the party is consistent with the Electoral Act,” he said. “We are allowing our affected members who may have the intention of contesting the primaries to comply with the Electoral Act, as provided.
“The Electoral Act, however, does not stipulate the time frame by which individuals should resign their appointment prior to the primary. The party will simply follow the Electoral Act.
“Any member of the party who is on an appointive position, we will expect such individual to resign before our primaries.
“We are hopeful that they will comply at the right time and we are going to ensure that anyone seeking our ticket will not breach the Electoral Act,” he asserted.
By Tribune
