Another minister resigned to compete for a senator’s seat

Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs Yusuf Sununu has submitted his resignation as minister as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

The President has ordered that people appointed to elective positions resign from their positions no later than March 31.

Sununu has officially resigned to contest the Kebbi State senatorial seat.

Before being appointed as minister of state in August 2023, Sununu had represented the Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, where he chaired the Health Services Committee.

The order requiring appointed officials to resign by that date sparked intense speculation in government circles and throughout the political world.

The circular, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and issued by the Permanent Secretary (Public Service Office), Dr Ibrahim Kana, stated that the directive “is in accordance with the provisions of Section 88(1) of the 2026 Elections Act, as well as the schedule issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission for party primaries leading up to the 2027 elections.”

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Article 88(1) of the 2026 Election Law requires political appointees, including ministers, advisers and heads of government agencies, to resign from their posts before they can participate in party primaries or be nominated for any elective office.

These provisions are designed to prevent the use of public office and state resources to gain unfair advantages during the electoral process.

This directive applies to ministers, secretaries of state, special advisers to the President, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal assistants, directors general, and chief executives of federal parastatals, commissions, agencies, and government-owned companies.

According to its schedule, the Independent National Electoral Commission scheduled the party primaries between April 23 and May 30 2026, with the names of candidates due by July 11 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and August 8 for the gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

Previously, Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar had also resigned from President Tinubu’s cabinet.

Tuggar, who hails from Gamawa Local Government Area of ​​Bauchi State, resigned on Monday to resume as governor of Bauchi State, the ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed.

Apart from the two ministers, several other appointed officials have also submitted their resignations.