Appeal Court Backs Political Appointees To Contest For Elective Positions

In a swift response to the ultimatum given by President Muhammadu Buhari to ministers in his cabinet to step down from their positions in pursuance of the office of the President and other elected positions, the Appeal Court has sensationally stepped in to douse the situation reports Prime Business Africa.

To this end, the Appeal Court sitting in Umuahia on Wednesday axed Section 84 (12) and maintained that political appointees can contest party primaries without resignimg from their jobs.

This comes as a slew of ministers like Rotimi Amechi (Transportation), Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment), Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; State for Petroleum Resources,Timipre Sylva; Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare and Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba are reportedly in the running for different offices.

Part of Section 84 of the Act states: “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.”

The provision further states that where a political party failed to comply with the provisions of the Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue.