Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has become the first minister to resign from President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.
Nwajiuba was singled out for praise by the president during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, where the latter ordered all cabinet members interested in contesting the 2023 general elections to quit.
The minister had picked the expression of interest and nomination forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to contest for the presidency and made the move to resign.
While the FEC meeting lasted, Buhari had singled out Nwajiuba for braving the odds to quit to avoid conflict of interest, and said: “I expect other members of this council seeking to be President to resign with immediate effect”
Other ministers expected to resign are: Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; and Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya.
Others are Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who would contest the governorship position in Kebbi State, Minister of State, Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, for governorship position in Abia State, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, contest for a senatorial seat in Plateau State.