By Ayo Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has issued a sweeping directive mandating all political appointees with ambitions for the 2027 general elections to resign on or before March 31, 2026, drawing a firm line between governance and partisan politics.
The order, announced on Tuesday in a presidential statement by Dewan Goshit, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), is anchored on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and aligns with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries.
In what could trigger a wave of high-level exits, the directive affects ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and personal aides, as well as directors-general and chief executives of federal agencies, commissions, parastatals and government-owned firms.
“All political appointees who intend to contest for elective offices in the forthcoming elections are required to resign their appointments on or before March 31, 2026”, the statement said.
It further directed that “affected officials are to submit their letters of resignation through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation not later than the stipulated deadline.”
The presidency stressed the rationale behind the move, noting that “the measure is necessary to ensure full compliance with electoral laws, uphold transparency in the political process, and promote a level playing field for all aspirants ahead of the elections.”
Beyond its legal grounding, the directive signals an early recalibration of the political landscape ahead of 2027, as the administration seeks to separate governance from campaign ambitions while projecting commitment to credible polls.
