In her resignation letter to the President dated September 29, 2018, the former minister thanked Buhari for the opportunity to serve.

Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Minister of Women Affairs Senator Aisha Alhassan yesterday resigned her appointment as a minister and also quit her membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alhassan had in a video that surfaced online on September 5, 2017, backed Atiku Abubakar to take over the presidency from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

In the video, she referred to the former Vice President as “next president come 2019.” As part of a delegation that paid a courtesy visit to Atiku, Alhassan, who was the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Taraba State in 2015, had said in Hausa language: “Your Excellency, our father the next president come 2019, God willing. In your presence are your people, your supporters who will continue supporting you till forever.

“The people of Taraba State came to give their felicitations for the Sallah celebration and to rejoice with you on the achievement God has given you. For sure, God has already blessed you; this is like a reminder.”

In her resignation letter to the President dated September 29, 2018, the former minister thanked Buhari for the opportunity to serve.

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She stated that from the onset up to collection of nomination form and mobilisation of her supporters for the presidential and gubernatorial primaries, she kept the President in the know. She said she was however taken aback when she was disqualified by the party from contesting the primary election, adding that she was more troubled when no reason was given. According to her, it would be out of place for her to remain as a minister in the government when the party that formed the government does not find her qualified to be a governor, hence her decision to resign her post. Alhassan also resigned her membership of the APC, saying she took the decision because of her disqualification from contesting the governorship primary in her state with no tangible reason by the leadership of the party. She also said she felt betrayed and let down by the party.