Independent NG
Femi Falana, a popular human rights lawyer on Saturday faulted the withdrawal of the resignation letters by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AbubakarMalami, SAN and Minister for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, describing it as “illegal and unconstitutional”.
Barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives that all ministers eyeing any elective position ahead of the 2023 general election should submit their resignation, Sen. Ngige, disclosed that he had withdrawn his presidential aspiration and would remain in office as minister.
The minister made his withdrawal known in a statement he signed and issued to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
According to him, “Having also consulted widely with my family, constituents, supporters, and well-wishers, it is my pleasure to announce the withdrawal of my interest and earlier decision to contest the office of the President in the 2023 general elections.
As a result of this, will NOT be participating in any of the internal party processes of the said election, starting with the primary. I took this momentous decision firstly in the overall interest of the nation, in order to enable me to concentrate on my job, and assist the President and the Government, during the difficult last lap in the life of the administration, and secondly for other family reasons.
“I have since communicated this decision to the President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” he stated in a statement.
Reacting to the development, Falana said such withdrawal from Ngige and Malami was illegal, adding that the withdrawal constitutes a gross contravention of section 306 (2) of the Constitution…
