Politics

2023: Resign If You Want To Contest Elections, Saraki Tells Ministers

Published

3 years ago

Mar 12, 2022.

Bukola Saraki called on ministers and other political appointees seeking electoral offices in the 2023 elections to resign before pursuing their ambitions on Saturday in Abuja.
Saraki made the remark in response to a question from our correspondent, shortly after the PDP’s National Youth Leader met with Zonal and State Youth Leaders at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Former Senate President Bukola Saraki called on ministers and other political appointees seeking electoral offices in the 2023 elections to resign before pursuing their ambitions on Saturday in Abuja.

He also criticised the President’s request to the National Assembly to repeal Section 84 (12) of the recently signed Electoral Act, which prohibits government appointees from participating in party conventions and congresses to elect new leaders or candidates without resigning.

Saraki made the remark in response to a question from our correspondent, shortly after the PDP’s National Youth Leader met with Zonal and State Youth Leaders at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
Despite a court order barring the Senate from acting on it, the bill received its first reading on Tuesday.
The request was denied after Senator Yahaya Abdullahi led the debate on the bill’s second reading.
Senators fought back, voting “no” when put to a vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Speaking about the amended electoral act, which the President signed on February 25, 2022, and his subsequent request to the National Assembly to repeal section 84(12), the former Senate President stated that there is no reason for anyone to hold an appointed position while running for elective office.
“I disagree with that. I mean, why should someone in political office use the influence of political office to contest? We talked about the participation of youths. What chance does the young Nigerian have to contest somebody who’s sitting in public office; has access to power by influence; has access to funds of government?

“If you want to contest, for heaven’s sake, go out, resign and go and contest? Why would you stay in political office? It’s even wrong for us to be debating it. It is so selfish.

“If you truly want to represent this country, why do you have to remain in political office? Step out and contest. And if we are talking about youths, we’re talking about people having an opportunity. What chance does a 25-year-old young man or woman have against somebody who’s a director in a government agency? We should not encourage things like these,” Saraki said.

Saraki noted that the new piece of legislation would empower Nigerians more than ever to seek and elect the right leaders.

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