President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet is braced for a potential shake-up as 2027 political calculations begin to take center stage.
Reports suggest several ministers are considering resignation to launch governorship bids in their respective home states.
At least four cabinet members are already positioning themselves for state-level contests, targeting seats where incumbent governors will conclude their second terms in 2027.
High-profile names linked to these departures include Adebayo Adelabu (Power), Muhammad Pate (Health), Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs), and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (State for Labour).
This movement follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) revised timetable, which schedules party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
Under current electoral laws, appointed officials must vacate their offices before participating in these primaries.
According to 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, “A political appointee at any level shall not be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention, congress, and primaries of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”
By implication, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, and other political appointees must resign their appointments before participating in party primaries either as aspirants or delegates.
Adelabu is expected to resign in the coming weeks as he prepares to vie for the Oyo State governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This move marks Adelabu’s third attempt at the seat, following a 2023 loss to the incumbent, Governor Seyi Makinde.
Although he ran under the Accord Party in the last cycle, the former Central Bank Deputy Governor has returned to the APC, where he remains a central figure in the state’s political landscape.
Signs of his impending exit emerged late last year when, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, he expressed a desire to complete key projects “before I leave office.”
His intentions were made even clearer in a viral October 2025 video, where Adelabu formally declared his candidacy, referencing his past electoral hurdles in 2019 and 2023 as fuel for his current bid.
“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 said last year.
Adelabu’s aide Femi Awogboro confirmed his intention to contest for the governorship seat.
He said the minister would resign from office at the appropriate time to pursue his aspiration.
Indications also emerged that Pate and Tuggar might be contesting the governorship seat of Bauchi State.
Pate, who hails from Mainari village in Ajili Ward of Misau Local Government Area, previously contested the governorship position.
Pate’s governorship ambition dates back to 2015 when he indicated an interest in contesting for the Bauchi State governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party.
He contested the governorship seat in 2019 under the Peoples Redemption Party after suffering a defeat at the APC primary.
Tuggar, who hails from Udubo in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, is also believed to be eyeing the governorship seat.
Tuggar, who previously contested the position, is said to have sustained political activities across the state.
The Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed Tuggar’s intention to contest for the state governorship seat.
Abdulkadir said:“The minister is interested and aspires to run for the governorship seat of Bauchi State.”
Meanwhile, INEC has dismissed a report claiming it fixed March 26 as the deadline for ministers and other public office holders intending to contest elections to resign their appointments.
In a public notice posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the commission said the information circulating online did not originate from it.
“The commission wishes to state clearly that the information is false and did not emanate from INEC. INEC has not issued any such announcement, and the graphic being circulated is fake and misleading,” the statement read in part.
The commission urged members of the public, media organisations and political stakeholders to disregard the message and rely only on its verified channels for election-related information.
All official announcements and updates are published through its website and verified social media platforms, as well as official press releases from the commission, it said.
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