The All Progressives Congress (APC) state chapters and national secretariat have been sidelined in the process of recommending ministerial nominees, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to deliver his selections to the National Assembly this week or next week.
According to news reports, following the new amendment to the 1999 Constitution signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinunu and governors must submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners for confirmation by the Senate or state Houses of Assembly within 60 days of taking the oath of office.
President Tinubu was sworn in on May 29, making him in office for 42 days.
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According to The Guardian, among the past governors considered for inclusion on the final list was Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State. Former governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Muhammad Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) are also on the list.
However, it has been reported that former Ogun State governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel, is preferred above Senator Ibikunle Amosun for the ministerial list, while former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, is also being considered for the position of Foreign Affairs Minister.
Senator Tokunbo Abiru, a former bank executive, is poised to become the new Finance Minister in Lagos State, where President Tinubu is from. According to reports, his nomination as Minister will pave the way for former Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode to succeed him as Senator representing Lagos East in the Red Chambers.
In Delta State, the party’s issue in the South-South state has caused doubt about who will be appointed minister as a result of maneuvering between two factions – one led by former deputy senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege, and another led by Lauretta Onochie and Dr Cairo Ojougboh.
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According to a reliable source: “From the top, the party may decide to pick Festus Keyamo, because he was presidential campaign spokesman and has been assisting the President to defend his case at the tribunal.”
But it was also gathered that another bloc is rooting for Otega Emerhor, with the support of Omo-Agege, since he (Omo-Agege) is still fighting to ‘reclaim’ his governorship mandate at the election tribunal.
Sources in Cross River State hinted that interested persons, including the immediate past governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; former senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; APC National Women Leader, Dr. Betta Edu; a governorship aspirant in this year’s elections, Senator John Owan Enoh; former party chairman and ambassador, Soni Abang; immediate past Board Chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and one-time commissioner for Information, Akin Rocket, and renowned businessman and also a governorship aspirant, Ben Akak, are all battling to emerge as the ministerial nominee from the state.
According to the Guardian research, Tinubu is willing to accommodate politicians and eggheads who can help his administration achieve national cohesiveness. It was learned that in doing so, he may not be able to rely only on members of the party who contributed to his success in the region.
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Tinubu has already received ex-governors of Enugu and Abia states, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, respectively. While it is unclear whether Ikpeazu would make the list, Ugwuanyi is thought to be a lock due to his close relationship with Tinubu and his efforts as governor to unite the country.
In Abia, however, there is a schism between former Minister Uche Ogar and the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, Ikechi Emenike, over control of the party.
Members of the party are divided as a result of the schism. According to one report, the party may have submitted two lists of potential ministers to the president.
Though Ugwuanyi is not a member of the APC, his demeanor has endeared him to a wide range of people and may gain him a position in Tinubu’s cabinet.
Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, is rumored to be on the list in Ebonyi. Anyim’s friendship with the state’s immediate past governor, Dave Umahi, who would eventually have a voice in who is selected from the state, is considered to be a factor.
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Imo state Governor Uzodimma will almost certainly have a say in the selection of the minister to represent the state.
The upheaval in the Anambra APC may force the president to search elsewhere for his minister. He only met with former PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh last week.
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