What appeared to be bold political calculations by some members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet ahead of the 2027 general elections has, for many of them, turned into a risky gamble with painful consequences.
While some ministers delayed their resignation and even failed to comply with the March 31 directive, others moved quickly to comply. Among those who acted early was Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who formally submitted his resignation letter on March 30, 2026, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
In his resignation note, Tuggar said the decision was in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and provisions of the Electoral Act. He described his time in office as a significant chapter of service and expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve under the Renewed Hope Agenda and contribute to Nigeria’s foreign policy through the 4D Doctrine.
Tuggar, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Gamawa Federal Constituency in 2007, also previously served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023. However, his governorship ambition suffered a setback after he lost the APC ticket to former Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar, who secured 57,517 votes against Tuggar’s 26,001.
In line with the presidential directive, several ministers resigned from the Federal Executive Council to pursue elective offices during the APC primaries. So far, only a few of the former ministers who stepped down have successfully secured party tickets, while others suffered defeats or remain politically uncertain.
Among those who resigned were former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; and former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu.
While Onyejeocha and Sununu managed to secure APC tickets in Abia and Kebbi states respectively, others recorded major setbacks.
Adelabu, who resigned to contest the Oyo State governorship ticket, was defeated by Senator Sarafadeen Alli, who polled 578,143 votes against Adelabu’s 19,193 votes.
Similarly, former Transportation Minister Saidu Alkali, who resigned to contest in Gombe State, lost the governorship primary to Jamilu Gwamna. The contest was further complicated by internal party disputes, with Alkali later alleging issues of fairness and credibility in the process.
Reports also indicated that some candidates who initially indicated withdrawal remained on the ballot due to timing issues, with votes still recorded for them despite stepping down.
Political observers note that the outcome of these primaries reflects the intense competition within the ruling party and highlights the unpredictable nature of early political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, where ambition, party dynamics, and delegate influence continue to shape results.
