President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered all members of his cabinet seeking elective office in the 2023 general election to resign.
It was gathered that Buhari gave the order as he presided over Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
One of his media aides, Tolu Ogunlesi disclosed the president’s directive via his Twitter handle.
He wrote: “Just in: All members of President Buhari’s cabinet vying for public office will have to resign on or before May 16, 2022”.
Just in: All members of President Buhari’s cabinet vying for public office will have to resign on or before May 16, 2022.
— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) May 11, 2022
Presidential directive issued today.
— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) May 11, 2022
Some of those on the president’s cabinet vying for the presidential ticket on the APC platform are Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, and Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige.
Buhari was said to have praised Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba for quitting to avoid conflict of interest after making his presidential ambition known.
It was not immediately clear if Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is also seeking the APC presidential ticket, is affected by the directive.