The initial order on Wednesday from President Muhammadu Buhari ordering ministers in his cabinet who are aspiring for elective political offices in the 2023 elections to resign on or before Monday, May 16, caused more confusion among even the ministers, as to whether the order was limited to only the Federal Executive Council (FEC) members alone or was inclusive of other political appointees. But the seeming impasse did not last long as a circular from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, early Thursday, clarified all the issues.
President Muhammadu Buhari, through the circular, has now clarified his earlier directive, leaving no room for ambiguity.
The order, which is in line with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), affects all government appointees.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Governor, Godwin Emefiele had filed a suit seeking enforcement of his right to contest the 2023 Presidential election without resigning from his current position.
Emefiele had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and four others before a Federal High Court on Monday.
However, in a circular released by Mustapha on Buhari’s directive, heads of extra-ministerial departments, agencies, parastatals of goverment, ambassadors and other political office holders who have interest to contest the upcoming presidential, gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections were also affected.
That automatically includes Emefiele.
READ ALSO:Buhari Orders Ministers, Others Interested In 2023 Elections To Resign
The Circular reads: “Mr. President has observed and noted the expression of interest and intention by some members of the Federal Executive Council, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies, Parastatals of Goverment, Ambassadors and other Political Office holders to contest the upcoming Presidential, Gubernatorial, National and State Assemblies’ elections. “Consequently, Mr. President has directed that the affected office holders aspiring to run for various offices in the 2023 General Elections, should tender their resignation on or before Monday, the 16th of May, 2022. “For the avoidance of doubt, this directive affects all Ministers, Heads and Members of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies and Parastatals of Government, Ambassadors as well as other political appointees who desire to contest for elective offices. For smooth running of the machinery of government and our foreign Missions, affected Ministers are to hand over to Ministers of State where they exist or to the Permanent Secretary, where there is no Minister of State, Ambassadors shall hand over to their Deputy Heads of Mission or the most Senior Foreign Service Officer in line with established practices. “Similarly, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies and Parastatals are to hand over to the most senior Director/Officer as may be peculiar to the organisation, in line with the service wide Circular No. SGF 50/S. I/C 2/268 of 4 December, 2017”.
