Saidu Alkali has resigned as Nigeria's Minister of Transportation, the State House media office confirmed in a statement issued Tuesday evening. The resignation took place hours before the March 31, 2026 deadline set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for political appointees seeking elective office. Alkali formally tendered his resignation following a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He is expected to contest the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State, aiming to succeed Governor Inuwa Yahaya, whose second term ends in May 2027. Yahaya, of the All Progressives Congress, first took office in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023. Alkali, also a member of the APC and a native of Gombe State, is now free to campaign under the president's directive issued on March 17, 2026, which required all appointees with political ambitions to vacate their positions by month's end. The directive applied across the cabinet, mandating timely resignations to ensure a level playing field ahead of the upcoming general elections. No immediate replacement has been named, and the duties of the minister will likely be reassigned temporarily within the ministry. The transition comes as several other appointees are expected to step down before the deadline to pursue gubernatorial, senatorial, or House of Representatives seats.
When President Tinubu insisted appointees resign by March 31 to run for office, he wasn't just enforcing rules—he was shaping the 2027 political terrain. Alkali's exit, timed to the hour, shows how tightly the presidency controls political movement within the APC. By forcing early resignations, Tinubu ensures loyalty while clearing space for aspirants to campaign without the weight of office. This isn't just about elections; it's about who gets to build power under the president's watch.
