April 27, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige on Wednesday, said he won’t resign his appointment as Minister to contest the 2023 presidential election in obedience to Section 84 (12) of the New Electoral Act, 2022.
Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) has provided that “No political appointee at any level shall be a 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.”
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had purportedly issued new guidelines stipulating that all political appointees, who aspire to participate in its primary elections at all levels must resign at least 30 days before the conduct of the primaries.
Ngige, who is one of the Presidential aspirants of the APC, denied knowledge of his party’s directives that all appointees should resign ahead of the May 30th Presidential primaries of the party.
Section 3(i) of the APC Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2023 General Elections states that “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.”
Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, he said he was unaware of any law requiring him to resign to contest the presidential ticket of the APC at least, 30 days before the conduct of party primaries.
According to him, his decision is in line with the 1999 constitution as amended.
He noted that the March 18 judgement of the Federal High Court in Umuahia, struck out section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, obviating the need for appointees to resign their appointment.
Asked when he will resign in line with his party directives, Ngige 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 the 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) has been struck down by a court of law and the cases are on appeal. And for now, no matter how bad the judgement is, that’s the maximum jurisprudence, no matter how bad the law is, it is a judgement of the court, 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 the 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 the grand-norm of all laws.”
Pressed further that his party has asked all appointees in his cadre to resign, he said: “No, it’s not there. Is not in the works at all. But I will make some consultation with the party, I will find out.”
Reminded that the same party is aware that the judgement of the court has not been vacated, is also asking members aspiring for office to quit office, Ngige said: “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 will then know what to do.”
On the condemnation that has trailed the N100 million fee for the form, the former Anambra State governor said: “Well, that is the people’s views. I had said earlier that I made a budget of N50 million, and is now N100 million. So I have discussed with my supporters, and they are raising the money to augment whatever is before now. So when they finish augmentation, I believe that we’ll get up to N100 million so that we can purchase our form.”
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