Alkali joins list of Ministers, others who resigned from Tinubu’s government

….To contest Gombe Governorship position in APC

Sa’aidu Alkali, Minister of Transportation has join the list of Ministers who resigned from the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu to contest Gombe Governorship position in 2027

Alkali, who was appointed as Minister by President Tinubu in August, 2023, had before the appointment served as Senator representing Gombe North Senatorial district in the national assembly

How resignation brings the number of Ministers who have resigned so far to three.

Alkali, is contesting the governorship position currently occupied by Inua Yahaya, whose tenure is expected to end in May, 2027.

Yahaya was first elected in 2019 and was reelected in 2023, is also the current Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum

BusinessDay gathered that Alkali had submitted his resignation letter to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF which is in charge of the Cabinet office.

Other officials have also resigned to contest for elective positions, following President Bola Tinubu’s directives to political appointees serving under his administration

As at the last day of the directive, BusinessDay checks show that Ministers, including Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, have also tendered their resignation

Others who also resigned include Ahmed Aminu, the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and Abdulrasaq Namdas, member of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC

Yusuf Tuggar is contesting the governorship position in Bauchi state, expected to be vacant in 2027

The incumbent, Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, is expected to vacate the position in May, 2027, after serving out his two terms

BusinessDay gathered that Yusuf Sununu will be contesting for the Kebbi South Senatorial district in 2027.

Sununu had before being appointed as a Minister, represented Kebbi State in the House of Representatives

BusinessDay also gathered that both Ahmed Aminu and Abdulrasaq Namdas will contest the governorship primaries of the All Progressive Congress in Adamawa State.

Namdas had before being nominated into the board of the NDDC served twice as member of the House of Representatives, representing Ganye/Jada/ Toungo federal constituency.

Read also: Transport minister Alkali resigns to contest Gombe governorship

In 2023, Namdas had contested the APC ticket with Aisha Binani, but withdrew from the race midway into the election to support Binani.

Ahmed Aminu is coming into race with many years of experience in the public service

BusinessDay gathered that he is being backed by some political heavyweights, including Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser NSA, amongst others

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, had earlier 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 (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the circular signed by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, the President states that the resignation requirement applies to all categories of presidential political appointees who wish to participate in the forthcoming party primaries or seek nomination for any elective offices

They include Ministers, Ministers of State, Special Advisers to the President, Senior Special Assistants to the President, Special Assistants the President, Personal Assistants to the President, All Directors-General, and Chief Executive Officers of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions, and Government-owned Companies, as well as all Other Political Appointees of the President.

All the affected officials were asked to submit their formal resignation letters through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation not later than March 31, 2026.

President Tinubu emphasised that the measure is necessary to ensure full compliance with electoral laws, uphold transparency in the political process, and promote a level playing field for all aspirants ahead of the elections.

He urged all concerned officials to take note of this directive and ensure strict compliance, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and promoting credible electoral processes in Nigeria.