As the March 31 deadline set by President Bola Tinubu for political appointees to resign in order to contest in the 2027 general elections expired on Tuesday, a number of senior members of his federal cabinet have formally exited government.
The directive, communicated through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, required ministers and other political appointees with electoral ambitions to vacate their posts by the end of March to comply with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all political appointees under his administration who intend to contest elective offices in the forthcoming 2027 general elections to resign their appointments on or before March 31, 2026.
"The directive is pursuant to the provisions of Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission for party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections," Tinubu had said.
Among the earliest to step down was Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who submitted his resignation ahead of the deadline as he prepares to pursue the governorship of Bauchi State under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Shortly after, Yusuf Sununu, until recently the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, tendered his resignation to pursue a senatorial seat in Kebbi State.
On the eve of the deadline, Senator Saidu Alkali, the Minister of Transportation, also resigned to contest the Gombe State governorship election.
Alkali's exit was confirmed by the State House media office following a meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
In Oyo State political circles, reports circulated that Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, had resigned to focus on a similar ambition.
However, his office has since denied the claims, stating he remains in office and has “shelved” his governorship bid after failing to meet the resignation deadline.
The confirmed departures reflect just a portion of the wider cabinet shake-up triggered by the presidential directive, which was intended to stimulate adherence to electoral regulations and restrict conflicts of interest as political contests intensify ahead of 2027.