By Agu Agu
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said on Wednesday that he would not yet resign his appointment in view of his insistence on going ahead to contest the 2023 presidential primary election of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is despite the party stipulating that all political appointees who aspire to participate in its primary elections at all levels must resign at least 30 days before the conduct of the primaries, which begin next month. The presidential primary is slated for May 30th.
Ngige, in a chat with State House correspondents, denied knowledge of the party’s directives, and said that his decision was in line with the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He recalled that the March 18th judgement of the Federal High Court in Umuahia, struck out section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, being quoted by the party, hence he is not under compulsion to resign his appointment.
His words: “I don’t know about that I’m hearing for the first time from you. But like I always say, I’ll be guided by the letters and spirit of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“You are pushing me into something that is not necessary to discuss, because that aspect of the law enacted by the National Assembly, via the Electoral Act, that section 84(12) has been struck down by a court of law and the cases are on appeal.
“And for now, no matter how bad the judgement is, that’s the maximum jurisprudence, no matter how bad the law is, it is a judgement of court, it should be obeyed, until upturned or stayed.
“But there is no stay, there’s no upturnment of that particular pronouncement, and the party is on appeal. So the judgement is still subsisting, that aspect of the law was injurious to some persons and should not have been there.
“I also know that the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria in certain sections, section 107, 137 and 88, prescribes disqualification clauses for people who are going for election and that prescription is supreme, because it’s in the constitution and the constitution is grand-norm of all laws.”
Pressed further that his party has asked all appointees in his cadre to resign, he said: “No, it’s not there. Is not in the works at all. But I will make some consultation with the party, I will find out.” When reminded that the same party is aware that the judgment of court has not been vacated, and is also asking members aspiring for office to quit office, Ngige replied: “I have not seen that pronouncement from the party. I have not seen any release from the party. It has not been conveyed to me or to anybody. I’m an aspirant, I’m a presidential aspirant. So I’ll find out and if it is true, I would then know what to do.” Asked to react to the condemnation that has trailed the N100 million fee for the form, the former Anambra State Governor said: “Well, that is the people’s view. I had said earlier that I made a budget for N50 million, and it (form) is now N100 million. So I have discussed with my supporters, and they are raising the money to augment whatever is before now. So when they finish augmentation, I believe that we’ll get up to N100 million so that we can purchase our form.”
