Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has officially resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s administration, signalling his intention to contest Bauchi State’s 2027 governorship election.
Confirming the development, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told BusinessDay Newspapers that Tuggar submitted his resignation letter on Monday around noon, in line with a presidential directive requiring all political appointees seeking elective office to step down before the March 31, 2026 deadline.
“Tuggar submitted his resignation letter to the president shortly after noon. He is set to contest the Bauchi governorship election in 2027,” a source familiar with the matter said.
Observers say that Tuggar’s move is strategically timed, positioning him to vie for the governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The order requires that all political appointees with electoral ambitions step down on or before March 31, 2026, in accordance with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The directive covers ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, personal assistants, directors-general, and heads of federal agencies and parastatals.
With the March 31 deadline less than 24 hours away, additional resignations are expected as appointees align with the requirements to participate in the electoral process.
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