Politics

Electoral Act: Why I Won’t Resign Despite Presidential Ambition –Ngige

Published

4 years ago

April 21, 2022

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says he won’t resign his ministerial appointment despite his 2023 presidential ambition because the 1999 Constitution overrides the Electoral Act.

The All Progressives Congress aspirant spoke on Thursday as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme monitored by The PUNCH.

Asked if he had any fears about the controversial Section 84 of the Electoral Act, the former Anambra State governor said, “The (1999) constitution is the grundnorm, it is the biggest and heaviest of all the laws in Nigeria. And for you to be president, Section 137 has given you areas of qualifications and areas of disqualifications.”

“That constitution says you do so (resign) one month to election, for public officers. The issue now is that is a minister a public servant? Yes. Go to Section 5, you will see me listed there; ministers, commissioners, governors, Vice-President, President and heads of ministerial bodies.

“They listed all of us and gave certain things we should not do; you cannot take two jobs, you can’t; you can’t do business or trade, that area says you can only do farming as a public officer.”

It was earlier reported that the controversial provision in the Electoral Act demands that political appointees should resign before their conventions in May and not vote as an appointee.

Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act reads, “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.”

Apart from Ngige, there had been pressure on the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to resign following his declaration to contest the position of the President, also on the platform of the APC.

But the pronouncement of the Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, had nullified the contentious section of the amended Electoral Act.

Delivering judgment on the suit challenging the constitutionality of the provision, Justice Evelyn Anyadike had held that the section was “unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

The judge held that the provision was in conflict with the constitution and “ought to be struck down as it cannot stand when it is in violation of the clear provisions of the constitution.”

The judge, therefore, ordered the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to “forthwith delete the said subsection 12 of Section 84 from the body of the Electoral Act, 2022.”

Though the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has appealed the judgment, the appellate court has yet to make any pronouncement on the issue.

The Court of Appeal panel, led by Justice Rita Pemu, merely granted leave to the PDP to file an appeal against the high court judgment before adjourning the case till May 4.

Nevertheless, the Presidency said it would be wrong for either the ruling party or anyone to begin to interpret what the appellate court had not spoken on.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, had also argued that the Electoral Act did not impose any timeline for ministers to resign.

PUNCH.

Politics

Go To Hell, You Didn’t Pay My School Fees – Wike Hits Seyi Makinde

Published

7 minutes ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has berated Seyi Makinde of Oyo state for calling him by his first name “Wike”.

The FCT Minister said it’s a mark of disrespect for the Oyo Governor to have addressed him by his father’s name.

Wike stated this on Monday while fielding questions during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike’s outburst followed claim by Makinde that Wike had promised to hold the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for President Bola Tinubu in 2027, a claim Wike denied.

Wike claimed that Makinde was not being truthful about what transpired during the alleged meeting and as well persons who were in attendance.

Wike said: “He didn’t mention former governor of Benue was in the meeting. He didn’t mention former governor of Abia. He didn’t mention former governor of Enugu.

“What was the purpose of that meeting? Who called for the meeting? Did the President call you for the meeting?

RES ALSO:Wike Bloc Asks Court To Nullify PDP Convention

“We went and said, look, we want to see President. And the President said, okay, come to the house. We went to the house as usual. And we said, Sir, we are still available. We still work together.

“So what is the issue of saying that we had a meeting?

“To start with, Seyi you cannot, he does not have what it takes to tell me that. He does not. He knows.

“He has never called me Wike. And to hell with him. You heard him say $1 million. Did he pay my school fees? That’s a disrespect.

“That is my father’s name. He can’t do that. He has never done that. He doesn’t have what it takes. Forget he’s a governor.”

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

6 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

6 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.