In a bid to break off any possible violation of the Electoral Act, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has given a deadline to cabinet ministers and other executive appointees at both the states and federal levels within which they must resign their appointments if they intend to participate in its forthcoming primary elections.
According to section 3(i) of the APC Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2023 General Elections states; ”No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for the purpose of the nomination of candidates.
“Any political office holder interested in contesting for an elective office shall leave Office 30 days prior to the date of election or party primary for the office sought.”
Also section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) states that political appointees, including ministers/commissioners and special advisers, must quit their offices to be eligible to participate either as delegates or contestants at the convention of their respective political parties.
The party has however, scheduled to hold its special presidential convention from Monday, May 30, to Wednesday, June 1.
By implication, the appointees now have till April 30 to leave their offices.
According to the electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, political parties have till June 3 to file their nominations for the general election.
