The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami has gifted 200 Mercedes and Toyota SUVs to Kebbi delegates to garner their favour ahead of the party’s primaries for 2023 general elections as he has declared his interest to contest for the Kebbi governorship seat.
An eyewitness at the distribution venue, who is also a party member shared the pictures of the vehicles on social media on Monday.
The politician, who didn't want to be named said more cars are expected to arrive from Lagos and will be shared to more delegates in the state before the date of the primaries.
Malami on April 26 declared to run for governorship seat of Kebbi State on All Progressive Congress (APC) platform, he has since then been lobbying the party delegates and stalwarts to curry their support and votes for the governorship primary election scheduled to hold on May 23.
The cars he shared include 65 Toyota RAV4 SUVs, 60 Toyota Prado SUVs, 40 Lexus LX SUVs, and 35 Mercedes Benz GLK 350 SUVs.
Malami has refused to resign his appointment as Minister to purse his political ambition in accordance with new electoral law and as his party, APC has asked its members who are seeking elective positions to resign from their political appointment.
Speaker House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila last week warned that disobedience of the political appointees in the party might result in the nullification of APC primaries, citing section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which states 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.”
However, Malami, on behalf of the Federal Government is challenging that section of the Electoral Act in courts, and says the section no longer exist until an appellate court restores the expunged section having been annulled by a Federal High court.