After months of speculations of his interest in the presidency, Rotimi Amaechi, Nigerian minister of transportation, has finally declared to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Amaechi declared his ambition despite the provision of the Electoral Act 2021 which barred serving political appointees to vote or being voted for except they resign their appointments
Amaechi declared his presidential ambition Saturday at an All Progressives Congress (APC) event in Rivers state.
“I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next president,” stated Amaechi who said he wanted to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Prior to this month, The Secretariat, a group of concerned Nigerians, endorsed him, describing the current Transport minister as“intellect, experience and worthy to move Nigeria forward.
Amaechi’s declaration came despite section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act which barred serving political appointees from voting or being voted for.
Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2021 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 nomination of candidates for any election”.
This means that political appointee who intends to be voting delegate or stand as aspirants for elective positions in a primary election shall, first of all, resign their appointments. For a political appointee, the failure to resign an appointment before voting as a delegate or standing as an aspirant in a primary election is a violation of the electoral act and further renders the primary election null and void and illegal.
Although a ruling of the Federal High Court, Umuahia, Abia State ordered the Attorney General of the Federation to nullify the section from the Act, the National Assembly has however opposed the ruling and taken steps to align with the provision of the electoral act.
Only last week, Ovie Omo-Agege, the deputy senate president gave April 11 deadline to any of his aides who has political ambition.
The deadline is contained in a March 30th memo signed by Otive Igbuzor, his Chief of staff to all the staff in his office, stating the order is in line with the recent provision of the amended electoral act.
“I wish to draw the attention of all political appointees who are delegates to the state house of assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship and presidential primaries election including those holding positions in the party to please put in their letter of resignation”.
“This has become expedient as a result of the provision of the recently amended electoral act”.
“All resignation letters should get to the office of the deputy president of the senate not later than the 11th of April 2022.
“Above is for the attention and prompt response of all concerned political appointees of the Deputy President of the Senate.
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