TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, to resign immediately.

In a statement on Thursday, the party said Amaechi’s reported appointment as the director-general of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign team is unconstitutional.

Reports had emerged that Buhari has asked the minister to lead his re-election campaign team.

The PDP said Amaechi cannot take up the offer while still serving as a member of the federal executive council.

It said functioning as minister and Buhari’s re-election campaign DG is contrary to the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

The statement issued by Kola Olagbondiyan, PDP spokesman, read: “If APC has any strand of dignity, then Amaechi must resign as the minister of transportation having been appointed and already functioning as the DG of President Buhari’s campaign.

“Under the constitution of Nigeria, Amaechi cannot combine the job of a minister with another responsibility such as the DG of a campaign organisation.

“Amaechi’s action in accepting the job while still holding office as minister is in clear breach of the oath of office and the oath of allegiance which he swore to in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended). He should therefore resign his office as minister with immediate effect.”

The PDP also accused the ruling party of being “insensitive” to the plight of Nigerians as it is more interested in setting up an electoral structure for a second term “when Nigerians are dying daily of hunger and poverty”.

It said: “Is it instructive for Nigerians to now know that the APC has not the littlest agenda on governance for our people and do not have the interest of Nigerians at heart.

“They have shown that all they care for is their selfish political and pecuniary interests.”