Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali, has stepped down from his role in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet ahead of the deadline for political appointees seeking elective positions.
His resignation comes just hours before the March 31, 2026 cutoff set by the president for officials with political ambitions to vacate their offices. The decision followed a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
Alkali, who is from Gombe State, is reportedly preparing to contest the governorship election in 2027, aiming to succeed current governor Inuwa Yahaya, whose tenure is expected to end in May of that year.
The move aligns with an earlier directive mandating that all political appointees intending to participate in upcoming elections must resign before the stated deadline. This policy is in line with electoral regulations requiring such officials to step aside before engaging in party primaries.
The rule is intended to ensure fairness in the electoral process by preventing the misuse of government resources and influence. It applies to a wide range of government officials, including ministers, advisers, and heads of federal agencies.
Party primaries are scheduled to take place between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while submission deadlines for candidates have been fixed for mid-year.
Alkali becomes the third minister to exit the cabinet in compliance with this directive.
