Akpabio, Ogbonnaya Onu Resign hours After Buhari’s Stepdown Order

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio, minister of science and technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu have resigned some hours after President Muhammadu Buhari gave a directive that all members of the Federal Executive Council seeking elective positions should submit their letters of resignation and pursue their ambition in the 2023.

The minster of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba resigned earlier in the day.

There are nine members of the Buhari’s cabinet who have indicated interest in contesting for elective positions the 2023 election.

Of the nine, six have declared to run for president under All Progressives Congress (APC), while two (Abubakar Malami and Uche Ogar) are gunning for the governorship of their states.

Akpabio’s resignation was confirmed in a statement by his media aide, Jackson Udom, who debunked rumours that his boss has withdrawn from the presidential race to retain his position as minister.

Udom said, “Our attention has been drawn to mischievously written news stories making the rounds by paid agents of some politicians, that the leading presidential aspirant, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has purportedly withdrawn from the presidential race. This is a joke carried too far.”

“This is certainly the handiwork of those who are scared of contesting against Senator Godswill Akpabio.

“Senator Akpabio has resigned his appointment as Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry and will soon submit his nomination form at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, in line with his party’s guidelines.

“For those behind this lies and falsehood, we advise that they should learn to live with the reality, that Senator Akpabio is fully in the race, not only for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket, but to emerge the next democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Onu reportedly dropped his resignation letter at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Wednesday afternoon.

Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed made the announcement about the decision of president Buhari on affected cabinet members after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.