As the race for the Rivers State Governorship gathers momentum, four cabinet members have reportedly resigned their appointments to contest in the 2023 election.
Africa Update gathered from multiple sources that though their resignations have been kept under wraps with no official statement to that effect, the move is purportedly made to beat the clause in the Electoral Act, 2022 which says political appointees must vacate office to be eligible to participate in party primaries.
According to sources those who allegedly resigned are the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo; the Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu; Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects, Alabo George Kelly.
Others who have picked their Expression of interest and nomination forms include: a Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Okpara; former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo; Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency, Bro Felix Obuah, Senator Representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Sekibo, Senator Olaka Wogu, Chief David Briggs, Lawmaker Representing Bonny/ Degema Federal Constituency, Farah Dagogo, Senator Lee Maeba, and Asimilaye Fubara.
These political heavyweights will jostle for the number one slot during the party primaries scheduled for next month. It is however, unclear who amongst the 13 aspirants will win, as the clamour for a riverine candidate resonates across the state.
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