Resignation: Ministers, aides await consultation with Tinubu
Ministers, heads of agencies and aides are currently awaiting consultation with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the March 31st deadline for the resignation of those wishing to seek elective offices
- Defection terms may determine fate
- Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation
Ministers, heads of agencies and aides are currently awaiting consultation with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the March 31st deadline for the resignation of those wishing to seek elective offices in next year's elections.
They are being cautious because Section 84 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act allows a party to adopt either consensus or direct primaries in picking candidates.
The Act makes the President or a party crucial in determining the fate of all the candidates.
Some aspirants are in the dark on the defection terms with governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Outgoing governors are also hamstrung in imposing their successors depending on the disposition of the President and the party.
The governorship and state assembly elections have been scheduled for February 6th, 2027 in 28 states.
According to the revised timetable, the Presidential and National Assembly Elections are slated for January 16th, 2027.
Since the conduct of party primaries is between 23rd April 2026 and 30th May 2026, the President has directed all political appointees to resign by March 31st.
As at yesterday, no minister or any appointee had resigned because all aspirants claimed that they were still consulting with the President, governors in their states and party chieftains.
Some were said to be afraid of leaving the known for the unknown.
But the most challenging is the governorship race which some ministers and aides are interested in.
The Governorship election will take place in 28 states of Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu (South East), Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Rivers (South South), Lagos, Ogun, Oyo (South South), Niger, Kwara, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa (North Central), Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe (North East), Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara (North West).
Eight states have no election in 2027
Bayelsa, Edo, Kogi, Anambra, Imo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo have off-cycle elections. Ekiti and Osun will have their governorship elections in June and August respectively.
Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Nasarawa, Oyo, Lagos are not recontesting having completed two terms each.
Only Bauchi, Oyo, Abia, are not controlled by APC. The other 25 states where governorship elections will take place are all controlled by the APC at the moment.
Read Also: Tinubu will remain in power beyond 2027, says Tunji-Ojo-backed group
The battlegrounds appear to be Bauchi, Rivers, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe and Kano states.
In Bauchi State, it is likely to be a straightforward battle between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate.
For Ogun State, the real game is between Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi and Governor Dapo Abiodun, who is keeping his candidate to his chest. But other aspirants that have indicated interest are Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Bosun Tijani, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, and ex-Minister Sarafadeen Ishola. It was unclear last night if Tijani with a near zero background in politics would take the plunge.
Kwara is crowded with the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman(a former Minister of National Planning); the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa Onilu; the Pro- Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences Ila Orangun, Prof. Wale Suleiman; and a Non-Executive Commissioner on the board of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Sunday Adebayo Babalola, trying to upset Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's plan to produce his successor.
Other heavyweights are Sen. Saliu Mustapha (who has a large followership), Yahaya Seriki ( a billionaire), Sen. Lola Ashiru, Sen. Umar Sadiq and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Danladi Yakubu.
In Oyo State, the jostle for governorship ticket has now become an issue between the Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu, Sen. Fatai Buhari and a quiet aspirant, the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacheaus Adedeji.
In Gombe State, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alh. Abubakar Inuwa Kari and the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali are the leading aspirants. Governor Inuwa Yahaya is also keeping his gameplan under wraps. A former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami is waiting in the wings in the state.
The choice of governorship candidate in Nasarawa State may be shaped by the pre-2023 politics in which Governor Abdullahi Sule supported former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Ex-Governor Tanko Almakura may play an influential role to determining the party's candidate.
The leading aspirants are Senator .Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, current Senator representing Nasarawa West; Dr Faisal Shuaib, former Executive Secretary NPHCDA; Arc Shehu Tukur, ( a contractor and protégé of the former national Chairman of the APC, senator Abdullahi Adamu); Dr Musa Ahmed Muhammad, two term former speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly and current Accountant General of the State; Prof M S Haruna, former Chairman of NASENI ( rumoured to be the choice of the Emir of Lafia and some traditional rulers in the state); a former IGP Adamu Abubakar Muhammad (he is contesting against the zoning arrangement and is rumoured to be supported by the former Governor of the State, Senator Al-Makura),. Dr Musa Muhammad Makaiya( a business man and a philanthropist); Hon Hassan Abubakar Nalaraba (current member of the House of Representatives from Awe/Keana/Doma federal constituency); Hon David Umbumgadu( who was PDP Governorship Candidate in 2023).
In Borno State, Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari is said to be favourite for now.
Benue State is a hot bed between Governor Alia and whoever is the choice of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume. With two parallel State Executive Committees of APC and likely automatic re-election ticket for Alia, a protest vote is looming in the state.
The same scenario may play out in Rivers State where FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike may use the PDP platform to scuttle the second term bid of Governor Similayi Fubara.
In Adamawa, the race is between the APC National Vice Chairman, North-East, Comrade Salihu Mustapha and the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Ahmed Galadima Aminu
In Kano State, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may enjoy an easy ride but there are moves to lure his closest rival, Nasiru Gawuna to NNPP. Gawuna is the current chairman of the Federal Housing Authority.
A Minister last night said: "I am in the governorship race. But only if my boss gives me the go ahead."
Another said: "I want to consult with the President and APC leaders. Wait till March 31st” "
A third source said: "You can amplify my aspiration but I am consulting."
It was learnt that defection terms may determine the fate of some aspirants.
"We are not privy to the terms negotiated with the governors who defected, we have to be careful before tendering resignation letters, " a source added.
In a recent circular by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume all categories of presidential political appointees wishing to participate in the forthcoming party primaries or seek nomination for any elective office,were given to to March 31 to tender their resignation.
The 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 affected officials are required to submit their formal resignation letters through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation not later than March 31, 2026.
The SGF quoted President Tinubu as saying the measure was 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.
