2023: Akpabio says Electoral law doesn’t ask appointees to resign

The debate on the provisions of section 84, subsection 12 of electoral act 2022 has continued with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and presidential aspirant, Godswill Akpabio, declaring that the section doesn’t say appointees should resign.

He stated this while appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.

The Minster stressed that the section was nonexistent as a court in Abia had rendered it unconstitutional.

Thenewsguru.com recalls that the section says; “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.”

Akpabio however said; “In terms of section 84(12), it speaks about elections. If you wish to go into primary, you should try to resign before you go there.

In his words; “Even before Mr. President signed the bill, he had mentioned that it was not in line with the Nigerian constitution which contemplates 30 days before elections.”

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According to the Minister, no matter the act of parliament, no matter the law, the constitution is superior, adding, “Noreover, it was shut down by a court of competent jurisdiction somewhere in Umuahia. So for now, that law doesn’t exist.”

He stated that he wasn’t worried about the law because the constitution superceded it.

“I would have been worried about how the appeal would go but for the constitution. It depends on the constitution at the end of the day. It’s not a constitutional amendment,” Akpabio started.

Recall thenewsguru.ng reported here that opposition groups and some political commentators have raised concerns about the decision of many within the federal cabinet to retain their positions despite actively canvassing for support in 2023 general election.