Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, announced his resignation from the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Akpabio’s resignation was disclosed in a statement by his media aide, Jackson Udom, on Wednesday night.
President Buhari had earlier on Wednesday directed that all members of his cabinet and appointees contesting for electoral offices should resign on or before May 16, 2022.
The order was announced during the Federal Executive Council meeting, which was presided over by the President at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
Akpabio’s statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to mischievously written news stories making the rounds by paid agents of some politicians, that the leading presidential aspirant, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has purportedly withdrawn from the presidential race. This is a joke carried too far.
“This is certainly the handiwork of those who are scared of contesting against Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“Senator Akpabio has resigned his appointment as Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry and will soon submit his nomination form at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, in line with his party’s guidelines.”
Already, the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, and the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba have resigned their appointments.