• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

Some ministers in the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are considering resigning their positions to contest various offices in the 2027 general elections. Impeccable sources said at least four members of the Federal Executive Council are positioning themselves for state-level contests, particularly in states where incumbent governors will complete their constitutionally permitted two terms in 2027. Among those linked with possible resignation are Adebayo Adelabu, Muhammad Ali Pate, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. The timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) schedules party primaries between April 22 and May 20. Under the Electoral Act, political appointees seeking elective office must resign before participating in party primaries. Adelabu moves to replace Makinde Sources close to Adelabu confirmed that the Minister of Power is preparing to contest the Oyo State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Adelabu, who lost to incumbent governor Seyi Makinde, in the 2019 and 2023 elections, is believed to be making another attempt at the seat. An aide to the minister said Adelabu would step down at the appropriate time in line with electoral regulations, noting that only the President could direct him to resign before then. Recall that the tenure of the incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde, would elapse in 2027, as he is already in his second term of office. In a trending video in October 2025, Adelabu formally declared his intention to run for governor of Oyo, recalling how he lost to Makinde in 2019 and 2023. "I have now paid my dues. I contested against Seyi (Makinde) in 2019. In 2023, I also contested against Seyi, then as the sitting governor. But in 2027, God has shown that it's our turn. It's Adelabu's turn. Anything that belongs to Adelabu belongs to us all," he had said. Pate, Tuggar eye Bauchi governorship Two ministers in the administration of President Tinubu from Bauchi State are also positioning themselves for the 2027 governorship race. They are Muhammad Ali Pate and Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, both of whom are said to be weighing their chances ahead of the next electoral cycle. Sources close to Pate told BusinessDay in Abuja that growing pressure from political allies, supporters and community leaders has encouraged the health minister to consider entering the race. Similarly, insiders familiar with Tuggar's political calculations said the foreign affairs minister also harbours governorship ambition. Businessday reports that the current governor of the state, Bala Mohammed, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will complete his second term in 2027, having first been elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. Pate, who hails from Mainari village in Ajili Ward of Misau Local Government Area, has previously sought the state's top office. His governorship ambition dates back to 2015 when he first indicated interest in contesting on the PDP platform. He later ran in the 2019 election on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) after losing the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He again failed to secure the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2023 election. Recent political engagements by the minister, particularly programmes focused on youths employment and empowerment across parts of the state, have further fuelled speculation that he may be preparing to return to the governorship race. Onyejeocha seeks return to N/Assembly Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour, may be preparing to return to the National Assembly after spending 16 years in the House of Representatives. Onyejeocha represented the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2007 to 2023, winning four consecutive elections. Sources hinted that the Abia-born politician is considering another run for the legislature, after working in the executive arm of government. However, efforts to obtain her reaction were unsuccessful. BusinessDay reports that ministers, commissioners, special advisers and other political appointees are required to resign their positions before participating in party primaries, either as aspirants or as delegates. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports circulating online that March 26 has been fixed as the deadline for ministers and other political appointees intending to contest elections to resign from office. The commission described the claim as false and advised the public to rely only on its verified platforms for accurate and official information. Source: https://businessday.ng/news/article/tinubus-ministers-weigh-cabinet-exit-for-2027-contests/