All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru yesterday faulted critics of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the long ministerial list, saying he has not committed an infraction against the law.
He said the President should not only be commended for working within the constitutional provision, but also for appointing a nominee from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the first time.
Basiru, who spoke with reporters at the party secretariat in Abuja, said the new leadership of the party will strengthen its presence across all the political wards and local governments in the country.
He maintained that the critics of the President were entitled to their opinion, clarifying that he has not done anything outside of the law.
Basiru said: “Anybody is free to make comments as to the size of the ministers and as to the composition. Every state is expected to have a ministerial nominee at least.
“For the first time, the President appointed a nominee from the FCT for which the FCT people were happy.
“I think it is the prerogative of the executive. Section 5 of the Constitution is clear.
“The President is vested with executive powers, which he may exercise directly, personally or through ministers that he has appointed.
“That essentially is within the prerogative of the President, having regard to Section 5 of the Constitution of Nigeria and mind you, Section 1, Sub-section 1 of the Constitution of Nigeria says Nigeria shall be governed by the Constitution.
“So, the President has not done anything that is outside the confines of the Constitution.”
On the issue of external auditors appointed to probe the finances of the party, Basiru said: “It is a standard procedure and has been the routine in the party. If you go back, there has been no year that the external auditors were not appointed to audit the accounts of the party”.
On the moves to fill the six vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the committee has begun consultations as mandated by the National Executive Committee (NEC).