The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, has resigned from the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu, just hours before the March 31, 2026 deadline for political appointees seeking elective offices to step down.
The State House disclosed on Tuesday evening that Alkali tendered his resignation after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Alkali, who hails from Gombe State, is expected to contest the state’s governorship seat in the 2027 general elections, aiming to succeed incumbent Governor Inuwa Yahaya, whose tenure ends in May 2027.
His resignation aligns with a directive issued by the presidency through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, mandating all political appointees with electoral ambitions to vacate their positions on or before March 31, 2026.
The directive, backed by Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is aimed at ensuring a level playing field by preventing the use of public office for electoral advantage.
INEC has scheduled party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, with deadlines set for the submission of candidates’ names for various elections.
Alkali becomes the third cabinet member to step down in compliance with the directive. Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, also resigned to pursue elective positions in Bauchi and Kebbi states, respectively.
Before his appointment as minister, Alkali represented the Gombe Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
