What began as a strategic political move by several members of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet ahead of the 2027 elections has produced mixed outcomes, with some former ministers losing both their government positions and electoral ambitions.
The development followed a directive from the Presidency requiring ministers seeking elective offices to resign from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) before participating in the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While a few of the former cabinet members succeeded in obtaining party tickets, others suffered defeats, controversies, or uncertainty over their political future after stepping away from their ministerial roles.
Among those affected are former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu.
Out of the five former ministers, only Onyejeocha and Sununu eventually secured APC tickets in Abia and Kebbi states respectively.
Others, however, encountered setbacks during the party primaries despite resigning from their cabinet appointments to pursue political ambitions.
ADEBAYO ADELABU
Adelabu resigned as Minister of Power to contest for the APC governorship ticket in Oyo State.
The former minister was defeated during the primary election by Senator Sarafadeen Alli, who secured a significantly higher number of votes.
According to the primary results, Alli polled 578,143 votes, while Adelabu obtained 19,193 votes.
Before the election, Adelabu had dismissed reports suggesting that the President was supporting another aspirant in the contest.
“Anybody saying he had a meeting with the president and that he endorsed someone is telling lies,” he said.
The former minister also disclosed that he delayed his resignation in order to hold discussions with President Tinubu concerning his political ambition.
“He told me, ‘Bayo, it is time. This is a long-standing ambition. I will not stop you. Go and resign and start work,’” Adelabu stated.
According to him, “if the president were to back anyone, it would be me”.
Following the outcome of the primary election, Adelabu rejected the results and alleged that the process was marred by irregularities, intimidation, and manipulation.
SAIDU ALKALI
Former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, also resigned from the cabinet to seek the APC governorship ticket in Gombe State.
His attempt, however, did not produce the expected outcome as he lost the contest to Jamilu Gwamna, who was widely perceived to have the support of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
Alkali later distanced himself from the process and raised concerns over what he described as a lack of fairness and credibility during the exercise.
The former minister eventually finished behind former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, in the final standings.
Pantami polled 12,120 votes to emerge as first runner-up, while Alkali secured 11,612 votes as second runner-up.
Chairman of the election committee, Senator Abubakar Danladi, explained that both Pantami and Alkali submitted withdrawal notices after the commencement of the electoral process.
He stated that their names remained on the ballot because the withdrawal letters were received after voting arrangements had already been concluded.
YUSUF TUGGAR
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, formally resigned from office on March 30, 2026, ahead of the Presidency’s deadline for ministers seeking elective positions.
In a statement announcing his decision, Tuggar said: “Today, I formally submitted my resignation letter as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the provisions of the Electoral Act.”
He also thanked the President “for the trust and opportunity to serve under the Renewed Hope Agenda, and to contribute to advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy through the 4D Doctrine”.
Tuggar, who previously represented Gamawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and later served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany between 2017 and 2023, contested for the APC governorship ticket in Bauchi State.
He was defeated by former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, during the primary election.
Chairman of the APC governorship election committee in Bauchi, retired AIG John Bassey Abang, announced that Abubakar polled 57,517 votes, while Tuggar secured 26,001 votes.
The outcomes of the APC primaries have continued to generate discussions about the political risks associated with leaving executive appointments to pursue elective offices ahead of the 2027 elections.
