Emeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education and Presidential hopeful has resigned.
This was confirmed as President Muhammadu Buhari ordered all cabinet members interested in contesting the 2023 general elections quit his government.
The development made Buhari excited, as he also singled the minister out for braving the odds to quit.
The Minister of State for Education, Nwajiuba had picked the expression of interest and nomination forms from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to contest for the presidency at the cost of N100million.
In an apparent move to avoid litigations that might joepardize the chances of APC candidates in the forth coming elections, Buhari had directed that all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) running for elective offices should submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022.
While the FEC meeting lasted, Buhari had singled out Nwajiuba for braving the odds to quit to avoid conflict of interest, and said: “I expect other members of this council seeking to be President to resign with immediate effect”
Other ministers expected to follow suit include: Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; 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.
