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Full List: Nine Ministers Bow Out From Buhari’s Cabinet To Contest Various Positions

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No fewer than 9 members of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), cabinet have resigned their appointment as ministers over their political ambition, leaving the President on the lookout for other qualified Nigerians to fill up the vacuum created by their exit.

The cabinet members who resigned their appointment include the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Niger Delta Affair, Godswill Akpabio; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Tayo Alasoadura.

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Others are the Ministers of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu; Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen; State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; State, Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogar, and State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the President had at the end of Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting ordered all cabinet members with political ambition to resign on or before Monday.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Ngige Pulls Out Of Presidential Race, Retains Ministerial Seat

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Buhari’s order was in line with the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act which provides 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.”

Meet the 9 ministers and their political ambition:

Rotimi Amaechi

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The former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, joined the 2023 presidential race on April 9, 2022. The former Rivers State governor from 2007 to 2015 was the sixth APC aspirant to officially declare the intention to contest.

He was the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007. Before joining APC, Amaechi was among seven serving governors who formed the G-7 faction within the PDP. In November 2013, Amaechi alongside five members of the G-7 joined the then newly formed APC and later became the Director-general of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign.

Amaechi was appointed as minister in 2015. In July 2019, he was re-appointed as Minister of Transportation.

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Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba

The former Minister of State for Education on April 27 became the first of many aspirants to obtain copies of APC’s nomination and expression of interest forms in his bid to succeed Buhari in 2023.

Nwajiuba was born on 20 August 1967 at Umuezeala Nsu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area in Imo State. He was nominated and became a minister in 2019. Before then, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1999 – 2003 where he served as House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Land, Housing and works.

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READ ALSO: 2023: Buhari Speaks On Appointment Of New Ministers

The former minister was also the Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund from 2017 to 2019.

Abubakar Malami

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The former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has submitted nomination and expression of interest forms for the Kebbi State governorship race where he is eyeing to be the APC flagbearer in the state.

Malami was born on 17 April 1967 in Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State. In 2014, the former minister contested for the APC governorship ticket in Kebbi State but stepped down during the party primary to back Atiku Bugudu.

On 11 November 2015, the 55-year-old Malami was appointed as minister by Buhari. The former minister’s tenure was also laced with corruption and professional misconduct allegations.

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Ogbonnaya Onu

The former minister of Science, Technology, and Innovations had on May 6, 2022, joined 30 other presidential aspirants and officially declared his intention to vie for the APC’s presidential ticket.

The 70-year-old presidential aspirant was sworn in as the first Executive Governor of Abia State in January 1992. The former minister was also the presidential aspirant of the All People’s Party in 1999. He, however, stepped down for Olu Falae after APP’s merger with Falae’s Alliance for Democracy. Falae lost to Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP.

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Buhari appointed Onu as a minister in November 2015 He was sworn in again as minister on August 21, 2019.

Timipre Sylva

The former minister of State for Petroleum on May 9, 2022, picked his APC’s nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja. He obtained the forms ahead of the deadline for the sale.

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The 57-year-old is a former governor of Bayelsa State. In 1992, the former minister became the youngest member of the House of Representatives representing the Brass constituency in old Rivers State.

Sylva was appointed by Buhari on August 21, 2019, as the minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

Godswill Akpabio

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The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio declared to contest the 2023 presidential election under the APC platform on May 4 2022 at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium in Akwa Ibom.

Akpabio was elected as Akwa Ibom governor in 2007. He was re-elected for a second term in office in 2011. In 2015, he contested and won the Senate seat of the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.

Akpabio resigned as the Senate Minority Leader in August 2018 after defecting from PDP to APC. On August 21, 2019, he was sworn in as minister for Niger Delta Affairs.

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Paulen Tallen

A coalition of women and youth groups from Southern Jos, Plateau State purchased the APC senatorial nomination form for the former minister ahead of the 2023 general election, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. The group said the action was in recognition of Tallen’s antecedents in her service to humanity, especially to women and children.

READ ALSO: Jonathan Submits APC Forms Today, Emefiele Shuns Resignation Calls

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Buhari appointed Tallen, 63, as a minister in 2019 after she turned down ambassadorial nomination in 2015. In 1999, she was appointed Minister of State for science and technology by former president Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2007, she became the deputy governor of Plateau State and the first woman to be a deputy governor in northern Nigeria.

With their decision to exit Buhari’s cabinet, the former ministers will be playing their best political cards to ensure they clinch the APC’s ticket for their individual aspirations.

Already, the Minister for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige who earlier declared for the presidency and joined other ministers to attend the meeting with Buhari today (Friday) has withdrawn from the presidential race, retaining his ministerial seat.

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With the development, other aspirants may also withdraw from the race in the coming days ahead of the APC presidential primary, The PUNCH report.

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2027: Obi’s One-term Presidency Gambit Sparks Political Firestorm

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Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has come under fire from the All Progressives Congress and a faction of his party after reaffirming his vow to serve only one term if elected president in 2027.

In a statement on Sunday, Obi declared the pledge “sacrosanct,” drawing criticism from APC spokespersons and a divided reaction from the Labour Party.

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While the Abure-led leadership of the LP dismissed the vow as political theatrics, the rival caretaker faction led by Senator Nenadi Usman endorsed the commitment, citing Obi’s record of principled leadership.

The APC, however, described Obi’s promise as insincere and a ploy to woo voters.

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, had earlier cast doubt on claims of one-term presidency by Obi.

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Soludo dismissed the one-term pledge, saying any politician making such a promise should be sent for psychiatric evaluation.

How can anybody with a functioning brain say that? Do you think you’re speaking to fools? You come to people and say you will do only one term.

“Any politician who says that must be sent to a psychiatric home because the person must have some mental problem,” Soludo said during a political rally in Anambra South.

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The governor argued that the Nigerian Constitution provides for a renewable four-year tenure and questioned the wisdom of any politician voluntarily limiting themselves to a single term.

In response on Sunday, Obi, in a statement on X, invoked the legacies of revered leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela to justify his position that impactful leadership is not measured by longevity in office.

READ ALSO:2027: Why Obi Will Never Be President – Political Analyst

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Without naming names, just as Soludo hadn’t, Obi reaffirmed that his pledge to serve only one term if elected president remains sacrosanct.

Obi said, “One of the greatest American Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, served only four years, yet his legacy endures as a model of principled leadership.

“Another iconic figure, John F. Kennedy, did not even complete a full term, yet his vision and ideals continue to inspire generations.

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“In Africa, Nelson Mandela, revered globally as a symbol of justice and reconciliation, chose to serve only one term as President of South Africa, despite immense public pressure to stay longer.

“Indeed, history shows that the longer many African leaders remain in power, the more likely they are to be corrupted by it. Longevity in office is not a mark of success; rather, it is purposeful, accountable service — however brief — that defines true statesmanship.”

The former Anambra governor declared: “It is within this context that I reiterate my vow: I will serve only one term of four years if elected President. And that vow is sacrosanct.”

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Although Obi claimed his one-term promise was spurred out of genuine concerns, he did not betray emotion by the scepticism that had since trailed his declaration.

He, however, assured Nigerians that the negative reviews he had been getting wouldn’t deter him.

Recently, I became aware of two statements aimed, albeit indirectly, at my vow to serve only a single four-year term.

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“One person remarked that even if I swore by a shrine, I still wouldn’t be believed.

“Another suggested that anyone talking about doing only one term should undergo psychiatric evaluation.

READ ALSO:2027 Presidency: Tinubu Can Be Beaten In Next Election – Political Commentator

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I understand the basis of their scepticism. They are judging me by their own standards, where political promises are made to be broken.

“But they forget, or perhaps choose to ignore, that Peter Obi is not cut from that cloth. I have a verifiable track record that speaks louder than speculation,” he said.

He emphasised that his resolve to serve only one term of four years was a solemn commitment, rooted in the conviction that purposeful and transparent leadership did not require an eternity.

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He further outlined his agenda to sanitise governance, tackle insecurity, prioritise education and transform Nigeria into a productive economy.

“Forty-eight months is enough for any leader who is focused and prepared to make a meaningful difference.

“These are not utopian dreams. They are realistic, actionable goals that are achievable within four years,” he maintained.

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Speaking with The PUNCH on the issue, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, noted that as a party, the LP had a programme that everyone elected on its platform must stick with.

He said, “The Labour Party has a programme to implement when it gets into government. Regardless of who the party fields as its presidential candidate in 2027, the person will run with the programmes and policies of the party.

“I think it is too early to start talking about 2031 when we are still trying to sort out 2027. The LP has thrown its presidential ticket open. We don’t even know who will emerge as the candidate because there are so many people who have shown interest.

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“As our former presidential candidate, we wish Obi well in his career, including his ambition to govern for one term. The politician in him has seen that it is the right thing to do, and if that is what he wants to do, we are fine.”

On his part, the spokesperson to Senator Usman’s faction, Ken Asogwa, backed Obi to turn the fortunes of the nation around in four years if given the opportunity.

READ ALSO:ADC Speaks On Choosing Presidential Candidate Among Atiku, Obi, Amaechi

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He said, “Mr Peter Obi’s one-term promise is anchored in character and track record. He has consistently maintained that if it took this present administration just two years to plunge Nigeria into its current sorry state, then four years would be more than sufficient to begin the process of putting the country back on a sound and progressive trajectory.

“We understand that some Nigerians harbour legitimate fears – that the allure of office may eventually cause him to walk back on this solemn pledge, especially as such promises are not legally binding.

“However, when leaders make commitments, the public must turn to history and examine their past conduct. That is where true assurances lie – not in mere words, but in character and precedent.”

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According to Asogwa, “As governor of Anambra State, Obi kept faith with the people. He governed in strict adherence to the constitution and the rule of law, so much so that he was impeached by the state House of Assembly for being uncompromising in his commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process. He challenged that impeachment in court, won, and was reinstated – a first in Nigerian political history.

“That singular act demonstrated the kind of leadership he represents: one rooted in principle, not convenience.

“As a political party, we do not doubt his integrity. We are confident that, if entrusted with the presidency, Mr Obi would honour his word and serve only one term, as he has repeatedly promised. History is filled with examples of principled leaders who chose to serve their people for just one term, even when a second was within reach.”

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The Director of Publicity of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, described Obi as a man playing to the gallery, saying his words lacked sincerity.

“He is playing to the gallery. Obi is not sincere. What is there to guarantee that he will stick to the agreement if he is given the opportunity, knowing that he has the constitutional right to go for eight years? All these are antics aimed at deceiving the electorate or deceiving the coalition to give him the ticket. This is a proof of his desperation for power,” he said.

He added that “Obi is not doing this for the good of the country. He has nothing to offer. The APC is doing everything to bring democratic dividends to the people, and the reforms introduced by the government are beginning to yield fruits.

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“They have seen this, and that is why they are coming up with shenanigans of ‘give me one term.’ Obi will not respect that agreement.”
(PUNCH)

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Presidency Tackles Obi Over One-term Promise, says Lincoln, JFK Examples Misleading

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, has taken a swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent pledge to serve only one term if elected in 2027.

Obi, in a post via his X handle on Sunday, cited global leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela as his inspirations for making the “sacrosanct” promise.

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But Onanuga, in a statement via his X handle on Monday, described Obi’s references as inaccurate and historically misleading.

READ ALSO:2027 Presidency: Tinubu Can Be Beaten In Next Election – Political Commentator

According to Onanuga, a simple fact-check by Obi would have revealed that none of the leaders he cited served only one term by choice or under similar circumstances.

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“Lincoln, at the time he was assassinated, had finished his first term, had won re-election, and had been sworn in for a second term,” Onanuga said, pointing out that the American president began his first term on March 4, 1861, won re-election in November 1864, and had been inaugurated for a second term on March 4, 1865, before his assassination on April 15 of that year.

He also noted that JFK, another American president Obi referenced, did not complete even a single term. “John F. Kennedy came into office on January 20, 1960, and was assassinated on November 22, 1963, before the end of his first term,” Onanuga stated.

READ ALSO:Bishop Oyedepo, Enenche’s Unholy Example by Tunde Odesola

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While acknowledging that Mandela indeed served only one term, Onanuga argued that the South African icon declined a second term due to his age, not as a campaign commitment.

Mandela’s example might be more appropriately recommended to Obi’s rival for the opposition ticket, who will turn 81 by 2027,” he added in a veiled reference.

Obi has not yet formally declared his candidacy for 2027, but his recent comments and public engagements have reignited speculation about his political ambition.

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We May Not Have A Country If APC Retains Power In 2027 – El-Rufa’i Warns

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Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has issued a warning about Nigeria’s future, declaring that the country’s survival is at risk if the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Saturday, August 2, in Sokoto at a grassroots mobilisation rally for the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), El-Rufai made clear his intention to campaign vigorously against the ruling party.

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“I’m not in politics to get anything for myself. I’m in politics to serve,” he stated.

“When the government does not serve the people, it is my duty as a senior citizen to come out and condemn it and take steps to reverse the situation.

READ ALSO:How Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi Can Learn From Tinubu’s School Of Politics

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“That is why we come together as people opposed to the policies of this government to form the coalition, which has resulted in the adoption of ADC,” he explained.

El-Rufai, a former key member of the APC, said he is committed to rallying Nigerians across the country to unseat the party, describing it as “incompetent.”

We are in Sokoto to begin the process of mobilising Nigerians against the APC government anywhere and the federal government in Abuja,” he said.

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READ ALSO:Atiku, El-Rufai Coalition Seeks INEC Registration For New Party

“I believe that if we allow this party and the government to continue for a second term in office, what remains of Nigeria’s social capital will be destroyed, and we may not have a country at all. This is a fight for our lives.”

El-Rufai was once a founding figure of the APC but left the party in March 2025 to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following the Senate’s refusal to confirm his ministerial nomination, reportedly due to security concerns.

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However, his time in the SDP was short-lived. The party expelled him and imposed a 30-year ban, citing alleged forgery of membership documents, among other accusations.

Now a leading figure in the opposition ADC, El-Rufa’i joins other prominent politicians in working against the APC ahead of the 2023 polls.

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