APC Bigwigs Intensify Lobbying for Ministerial List

Former governors, senators, and other bigwigs in the All Progressives Congress, APC, have intensified lobbying for ministerial appointments from President Bola Tinubu.

Investigations indicated that some state chapters of the ruling party have already compiled names of persons nominated for ministerial slots, while others are still in the process.According to reliable sources, the lists are set to be forwarded to the party’s secretariat in Abuja for onward transmission to President Tinubu, who will decide on the shortlist and unveil the names of ministers and their portfolios any time soon.

Rcalls that former President Muhammadu Buhari, on March 17, 2023, assented to a bill mandating the President and governors to submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking the oath of office.Buhari signs amended bills that mandates Tinubu to name cabinet within 60 days.

The lists are subject to confirmation by the Senate and state House of Assembly, respectively. In line with this new order,President Bola Tinubu, who took over power on May 29, has less than 33 days left to unveil the list of his ministers.

There are 27 ministries left vacant by the previous administration. These are:Federal Capital Territory Administration

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Ministry of Aviation

Ministry of Budget and National Planning

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Environment

Ministry of Finance

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Information and Culture

Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy

Ministry of Interior

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Labour and Employment

Ministry of Petroleum Resources

Ministry of Water Resources

Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development

Ministry of Mines and Steel Development

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs

Ministry of Power

Ministry of Transportation.

Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development

Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation

Ministry of Youth and Sport

Ministry of Works and Housing

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

While President Tinubu has been enjoying public acceptance following his recent appointments, there are worries that party loyalists rather than competent individuals may occupy the ministerial seats.

Findings indicated that some of the party chieftains, including ex-governors and former lawmakers who lost out in the February 25 election, have been sighted frequently at the APC National Secretariat in the past few weeks.

Their sudden appearances at the secretariat in the nation’s capital are being construed as an apparent jostling for ministerial positions. Others did not show up in Abuja, but their names are strongly mentioned as likely candidates to appear on the ministerial list.

This category includes former governors Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano.Similarly, there are speculations that former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, currently a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, is contemplating defecting to the ruling party for a subsequent appointment.States chapters of APC are also contending for slots as compensation for their contribution to Tinubu’s presidential victory.

The immediate past Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, is being considered for a ministerial slot in Sokoto State, while party members in Osun State are rooting for the immediate past governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, to be named a minister.