2023 Presidency: Onu, Akpabio, Nwajiuba quit Buhari’s cabinet

…More ministers expected to resign
…A’Court reinstates s. 84 (12) of Electoral Act, 2022

MINISTER of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu and Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, as well as Minister of State for Education, Prof. Emeka Nwajiuba, yesterday, resigned their posts in the federal government cabinet.

  The trio separately announced their resignations shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari gave political appointees who intend to contest for elective offices in the forthcoming 2023 general election until May 16, for to resign from their positions.

  Tendering his resignation letter, yesterday, Nwajiuba expressed his gratitude to President Buhari for giving him an opportunity to serve in his administration.

  According to him, no sacrifice is so much for his “lofty dream of becoming the next president of Nigeria.”

  A highly reliable source said Onu visited Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation to drop his resignation.

  Speaking on behalf of Akpabio, his Personal Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, said “the minister has resigned. He has submitted his resignation letter to the SGF. We are waiting for him at the ICC, where he is coming to submit his nomination form.”

  It will be recalled that President Buhari, yesterday, ordered all members of his cabinet and appointees vying for electoral offices to resign on or before May 16, 2022.

  The order came during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting he presided over in State House, Abuja.

  Members of Buhari’s cabinet affected by the order include 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.

  Others include Minister of State, Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, who is running for governorship position in Abia State; Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who declared her ambition for a senatorial seat in Plateau State.

  In another development, Abuja division of Court of Appeal yesterday set aside the judgment of Federal High Court, Umuahia which voided Section 84 (12) of Electoral Act, 2022.

  A three-member panel of the court presided over by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka held that the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain the case because the plaintiff, Nduka Edede lacked locus standi.