Saidu Alkali resigns minister position ahead of 2027 elections to contest Gombe governorship, complying with Tinubu directive

Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, has resigned from the Federal Executive Council ahead of the deadline set by President Bola Tinubu for political appointees seeking elective office.

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The State House media office confirmed the resignation on Tuesday evening, noting that Alkali stepped down after meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Saidu Alkali resigns minister development comes just hours before the March 31 deadline requiring political appointees with electoral ambitions to vacate their positions.

Alkali is expected to contest the Gombe State governorship election in 2027, aiming to succeed incumbent Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

The directive mandating the resignations was issued on March 17 through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and signed by George Akume.

It is anchored on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires political appointees to resign before participating in party primaries.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission timetable, party primaries are scheduled to hold between April 23 and May 30, 2026, with submission deadlines for candidates set for July and August.

Alkali’s exit marks a strategic move as political realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former minister, who previously represented Gombe Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, is widely seen as a key contender in the state’s upcoming governorship race.

He becomes the third cabinet member to resign in compliance with the presidential directive.

Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, stepped down to pursue elective positions in Bauchi and Kebbi states respectively.

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Analysts say the wave of resignations signals the beginning of intensified political activity, as aspirants position themselves for party primaries and the broader electoral contest.