Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, has resigned from the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu as he prepares to contest the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
The resignation, confirmed Tuesday evening by the State House media office, came just hours before the March 31, 2026 deadline set by the President for political appointees seeking elective positions to vacate their offices.
Alkali announced his decision after a meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He is expected to join the race to succeed incumbent Governor Inuwa Yahaya, whose tenure will conclude in May 2027. Yahaya was first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
His exit follows a directive issued on March 17, 2026, by the Presidency through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. The circular, also signed by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), Dr Ibrahim Kana, mandated all political appointees with ambitions for elective office to resign on or before March 31.
The directive is anchored on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires ministers, advisers, and heads of government agencies to step down before participating in party primaries or being nominated for any elective position. The provision is aimed at preventing the misuse of public office and state resources for electoral advantage.
It applies broadly across the federal executive structure, including ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, agency heads, and chief executives of government-owned institutions.
According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, party primaries are scheduled to hold between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Submission of candidates’ names is expected by July 11 for presidential and National Assembly elections, and August 8 for governorship and state assembly races.
Alkali, a former senator who represented Gombe Central Senatorial District, becomes the third cabinet member to step down in compliance with the directive. Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, resigned to pursue the Bauchi governorship, while Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, exited to contest for a senatorial seat in Kebbi State.
His resignation signals the beginning of a wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as key figures reposition for upcoming contests across the country.
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