President Bola Tinubu has directed all political appointees seeking elective office in 2027 to resign by March 31, in line with the Electoral Act and INEC timetable
2027 Race: Tinubu Orders Appointees to Resign by March 31
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all political appointees under his administration who intend to contest in the 2027 general elections to resign their positions on or before March 31, 2026.
The directive, announced in a statement by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries.
According to the circular signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the order affects a broad category of presidential appointees, including ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal assistants, as well as directors-general and chief executive officers of federal government agencies, commissions, and parastatals.
The statement, issued by the SGF’s office, emphasised that all affected officials must submit their resignation letters through the appropriate channels no later than the stipulated deadline.
President Tinubu said the decision was necessary to ensure strict compliance with electoral laws and to uphold fairness in the political process.
He stressed that requiring appointees to step down before participating in party primaries would help promote transparency and create a level playing field for all aspirants.
The directive is expected to trigger a wave of resignations across key government institutions in the coming weeks, as several political appointees are believed to be nursing ambitions for elective offices at both the federal and state levels.
The move signals the administration’s intent to align fully with electoral regulations while reinforcing public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 polls. Read More
