Malami, Tallen, Sylva readmitted into FEC

Three ministers who withdrew from the coming primary elections of the All Progressives Congress yesterday attended the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari

They were the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

While Malami attended the FEC meeting physically, Tallen and Sylva did virtually.

Malami had declared interest in the Kebbi State governorship election; Tallen, in Platea senatorial seat; and Sylva, in the presidential race.

After Buhari had bidden farewell to outgoing FEC members on Friday, the trio and their Labour counterpart, Chris Ngige, withdrew their interests.

Some lawyers had argued that it is illegal for the ministers to return except Buhari re-nominates them.

Fielding questions from State House reporters after the meeting, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said Buhari would determine the fate of the ministers.

He said: “The other question about ministers returning or not going, I think you need to give me more time so that I can tell you exactly what the situation is. Right now, I need to cross check. I need to confirm again from Mr President what the situation is.

“I think, you see the final decision on who is going, who’s coming back? Who’s not going lies with the president.”