Ogun – No fewer than 35 political appointees of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State have resigned their appointments to contest the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
They include the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, Chief of Staff , Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu and political adviser Samson Kayode Egbetokun.
Others are according to sources, Tunji Akinosi, Commissioner for Forestry; Afolabi Afuape, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, Special Adviser on Women Affairs; Dapo Okubadejo, Commissioner for Finance/Economic Adviser to the Governor; and Jagunmolu Omoniyi, Commissioner for Housing.
It was learnt the appointees tendered their resignation letters in a hushed process managed by the office of the SSG.
Last week, the SSG office released a directive from the governor requiring political appointees wishing to contest the 2023 general elections to tender their resignation letter at a special desk in the SSG’s office.
It is believed that the carefully guarded process was taken to beat the clause in the newly signed Electoral Act 2022 which provides that political appointees must completely vacate their office for eligibility to participate in party primaries.
Section 84 (12) of the new electoral law provides that: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”
While Messrs Salisu, Akinosi, Afuape, Okubadejo, Jagunmolu and Mrs Adeleye-Oladapo seek seats in the House of Representatives to represent Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/Odeda, Ado-Odo/Ota, Abeokuta South, Ijebu Central, Yewa South/Ipokia, and Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituencies respectively, Messrs Talabi and Egbetokun are believed to be eyeing seats to represent Ogun East and Ogun Central respectively at the Senate.
The government has, however , refused to make the list of the resignees public.
Both Messrs Talabi and Salisu turned down requests seeking confirmation of their resignations. (vitalnews)
