2023: I’m Not Aware I Ought To Resign – Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has said that he has not received any directive from the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, concerning his resignation before the party primaries.

Meanwhile the ruling APC has dished out a deadline to political appointees at both the states and federal level to tender resignation of their appointments if they would be participating in the coming primary elections, to discard any tendency of violation of the provisions of the newly amended Electoral Act.

Section 3(i) of the APC Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2023 General Elections reads: “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.”

In connection with the above section of the party’s law, APC presidential aspirants now have till April 30 to leave their offices.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, reported to be nursing governorship ambition in Kebbi State and other political appointees at State level will equally have to resign their appointments.

Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) has postulated that “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.”

Ngige, while reacting to questions from State House reporters on Wednesday, expressed that he would follow the postulations of the Nigerian Constitution.

He said, “Because I don’t know about that I’m hearing for the first time from you. But like I always say, I’ll be guided by the letters and spirit of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. You are pushing me into something that is not necessary to discuss, because that aspect of the law enacted by the National Assembly, via the Electoral Act, that section 84:12 have been struck down by a court of law and the cases on appeal.

“And for now, no matter how bad the judgement is, that’s the maximum jurisprudence no matter how bad law is a judgement of court, is it should be obeyed, until upturned or stayed. But there is no stay, there’s no atonement of that particular pronouncement, and the party is on appeal.

“So, the judgement is still subsisting, that aspect of the law was injurious to some persons and should not have been there. I also know that the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria in certain sections, section 107, 137 and 88, prescribes disqualification clauses for people who are going for election and that prescription is supreme, because it’s in the constitution and the constitution is grandnorm of all laws.”

“I have not seen that pronouncement from the party. I have not seen any release from the party. It has not been conveyed to me or to anybody. I’m an aspirant, I’m a presidential aspirant. So, I’ll find out and if it is true, I would know what to do.”