Ngige— I am unaware of any APC resignation order issued to those aspiring for the 2023 election~details below
Former governor of Anambra State Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment. While speaking with Vanguard News media on Wednesday refrained that he was unaware of such order seeking the ruling party aspiring for a position in the 2023 general election to evacuate their appointment.
Mean while, the Senator stressed that if there is any order to that effect, it has not been conveyed to him and that there is a subsisting judgment from competent court of jurisdiction striking down the judgment.
Ngige while speaking in Abuja said that since section 84 (12) has been challenged in court and judgment entered into, the judgment should be obeyed until it is cleared off by the court.
According to report, when asked about his take on the alleged APC leadership order that political office holders aspiring for the 2023 election should resign within 72 hours, Ngige opposed saying?
“I don’t know about that I’m hearing that 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 case is on appeal.
“And for now, no matter how bad the judgment is, that’s the maximum jurisprudence no matter how bad a judgment of court is, it should be obeyed, until upturned or stayed. But there is no stay, that particular pronouncement has not been upturned, and the party is on appeal.
So the judgment 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, prescribe disqualification clauses for people who are going for election and that prescription is supreme, because it’s in the constitution and the constitution is the grand norm of all laws.”
When asked is there a law from his party, the APC for those occupying political positions and aspiring on the forthcoming elections to vacate their positions?
he objected, “No, it’s not there. It is not in the works at all. But I will make a consultation with a party, I find out.”
When asked why the APC went ahead to tell political office holders of the party to throw in the towel if they are contesting elections when there is a subsisting court judgment that has not been vacated?
“he said, “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.”
When asked about his position on the condemnations that have trailed the fixing of the APC’s presidential form for N100 million, which has been said to be ridiculous by Nigerians?
Chris Ngige stressed that “Well, that is the people’s views. I had said earlier that I made a budget for N50 million, and 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,” he said.
Ngige is one of the apex APC aspirant for the 2023 presidential election.