With the deadline for political appointees seeking elective offices drawing to a close, attention has shifted to cabinet members and other government officials expected to resign to pursue positions in the 2027 general elections.

The directive requiring political appointees to step down before participating in party primaries has triggered widespread speculation within government circles and the broader political landscape.

So far, the resignations of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, have heightened expectations of further exits from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Tuggar, who hails from Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, resigned on Monday to pursue the governorship seat in the state.

Confirming the development, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said, “The resignation of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs is confirmed.”

In a separate statement, his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, disclosed that the minister had long nursed the ambition.

“The minister is interested and aspires to run for the governorship seat of Bauchi State,” Abdulkadir stated.

In his resignation letter, Tuggar thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and for supporting the implementation of the administration’s 4D foreign policy strategy.

According to the ministry, his tenure recorded several achievements, including humanitarian evacuations of Nigerians abroad, the development of a Nigerians-in-Diaspora database, deeper engagement with Global South partners, the formation of the Regional Partnership for Democracy, and diplomatic interventions that secured the release of detained Nigerians overseas.

Sununu Targets Kebbi Senate Seat
Also on Monday, Sununu resigned from his position to contest the Kebbi State senatorial seat.

Before his ministerial appointment in August 2023, he represented the Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chaired the Committee on Healthcare Services.

President Tinubu had earlier directed all political appointees seeking elective positions to resign on or before March 31.

The circular, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and issued by the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Ibrahim Kana, said the directive was in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Section 88(1) of the Act requires political appointees—including ministers, advisers, and heads of government agencies—to resign before participating in party primaries or being nominated for elective offices.

The provision aims to prevent the use of public office and state resources to gain unfair political advantage.

The directive affects ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal assistants, directors-general, and chief executive officers of federal agencies and government-owned companies.

Other appointees have also stepped down ahead of the deadline.

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Nasiru Gawuna, resigned in a letter dated March 27.

“My resignation is in strict compliance with the President’s directive requiring all political appointees to step down in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” Gawuna wrote.

Sources who spoke with Punch, however, indicated that Gawuna has concluded plans to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), aligning with former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Similarly, a governing board member of the Niger Delta Development Commission representing the North-East, Abdulrazak Namdas, resigned on March 30 to pursue an elective office.

“I hereby respectfully tender my resignation as a governing board member of the NDDC representing the North-East Zone to pursue my ambition of contesting an elective position in 2027,” Namdas wrote.

He is believed to be eyeing the governorship of Adamawa State.

Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Nasir Ja’oji, resigned over the weekend.

His media aide, Abba Anwar, said Ja’oji thanked the President for the opportunity to serve and cited Tinubu’s concern for Nigerian youth as the reason he accepted the appointment.

More Ministers Weighing Options
As the resignation deadline expired on Monday, more cabinet members and heads of agencies are reportedly weighing their political options.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who has declared interest in the Oyo State governorship, said last year that his ambition had long been in motion.

“I have been on this journey for a while now. But this 2027, God has shown that it’s my turn,” Adelabu said in October 2025.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, is reportedly consulting stakeholders over a possible bid for the Ogun State governorship.

The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, is also said to be positioning for the Gombe governorship, while the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, is reportedly being considered as a potential successor to Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, is believed to be considering either a governorship or senatorial bid in Abia State.

However, sources said some ministers may have developed “cold feet” over their ambitions due to evolving political alignments.