President Bola Tinubu met with former Transportation Minister Sa'idu Alkali at the State House on Tuesday following Alkali's resignation from the cabinet. Alkali stepped down to contest for the Gombe State governorship in the 2027 elections, complying with a directive from Tinubu requiring ministers with political ambitions to resign by March 31. His media aide, Umar Jubril, confirmed the resignation was in line with the directive. Alkali, in a statement issued in Gombe, expressed gratitude to Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, highlighting achievements in the transportation sector during his tenure. Tinubu has accepted the resignation and commended Alkali for his service.
The meeting was closed-door and understood to be linked to Alkali's resignation and upcoming political move in Gombe. Alkali joins other former ministers, including Yusuf Tuggar and Yusuf Sununu, who have exited the cabinet to pursue gubernatorial bids. Tinubu also met with former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who left office in December 2025, in what was Badaru's first visit to the Presidential Villa since his resignation. Discussions may have touched on political dynamics in Jigawa State ahead of 2027. Former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje was also received by the President as part of ongoing political consultations.
Sa'idu Alkali's resignation and immediate audience with Tinubu suggest a tightly managed political exit, not an act of independence. His move signals that cabinet positions are now seen primarily as launchpads for state-level power plays. For Nigerians in Gombe, this means a minister turned candidate will campaign on federal projects he oversaw—blurring the line between public duty and personal ambition. Such meetings reinforce the perception that access to power is reserved for those already within the inner circle.
