The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba have tendered their resignation.
Their resignation is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that cabinet members interested in contesting the 2023 general elections should quit before May 16.
Akpabio’s Personal Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, confirmed his resignation.
He 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”.
The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba resigned his appointment earlier.
The development made Buhari excited, as he also singled the minister out for braving the odds to quit.
Other ministers expected to follow suit include: Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya, who have all joined the presidential race on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Others are Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is seeking to contest governorship position in Kebbi State, Minister of State, Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, who is running for governorship position in Abia State, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Paulline Tallen, who declared her ambition to contest for Senatorial seat in Plateau State.
The directive may not be unconnected with the Appeal Court ruling which set aside an earlier judgement against Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022
