By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media

The Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, has stepped down from the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in compliance with a federal directive requiring political appointees with electoral ambitions to resign on or before March 31, 2026.

The State House confirmed that Alkali tendered his resignation on Tuesday evening shortly after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

His exit came just hours before the expiration of the deadline issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which mandates all political appointees seeking elective positions to vacate office in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026. The provision is aimed at ensuring a level playing field by preventing the use of public office for electoral advantage.

Alkali, who hails from Gombe State, is widely expected to join the 2027 governorship race in the state, where he may seek to succeed incumbent Governor Inuwa Yahaya, whose tenure ends in May 2027. Yahaya, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023.

Alkali’s resignation adds to a growing list of cabinet exits in compliance with the presidential directive. Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, also stepped down to pursue elective positions in Bauchi and Kebbi States respectively.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, with deadlines for submission of candidates set for July and August, as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The news broke quietly, almost like a whisper carried through the corridors of power in Abuja. Yusuf Sununu had resigned.
For months, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs had been a familiar figure at relief camps and policy briefings, speaking about hope for displaced families and reforms in a system burdened by humanitarian challenges. But behind the scenes, political pressures and shifting ambitions had begun to take their toll.

His resignation letter, brief but reflective, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and expressed gratitude to colleagues in government. Though he did not give detailed reasons, insiders pointed to a mix of political recalibration and personal ambition.

Reactions followed quickly—some praising his service in the humanitarian sector, others questioning the timing of his departure. Within the ministry, staff reflected quietly on ongoing programs and what his exit could mean for vulnerable communities relying on government support.

As the sun set over Abuja, his departure marked another moment in the country’s unfolding political transitions.
The news also filtered through diplomatic circles: Yusuf Maitama Tuggar had stepped down as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In his resignation letter, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria on the global stage, describing his tenure as one defined by intense diplomacy and national responsibility. He thanked President Tinubu and acknowledged his team for their efforts in navigating complex international relations.

During his time in office, Tuggar was involved in high-level engagements across Africa and beyond, strengthening diplomatic ties and defending Nigeria’s interests on the global stage. His exit, though not fully explained in detail, was widely viewed as part of broader political realignments within the administration.

Reactions from the diplomatic community were swift. Some described him as a steady voice in foreign policy, while others expressed concern over continuity in ongoing negotiations.
As evening fell over Abuja, embassies remained active and diplomatic briefings continued—while another chapter in Nigeria’s political landscape quietly closed.