…Adelabu’s decision effectively removes him from contention in the 2027 Oyo State governorship race.
OYO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times| Minutes before the March 31 deadline, tension escalated across government circles as political appointees rushed to comply with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive requiring all those seeking elective positions in 2027 to resign.
By the end of the day, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) had reportedly received a surge of resignation letters from various quarters. However, one notable omission stood out,the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who did not resign.
Adelabu’s decision effectively removes him from contention in the 2027 Oyo State governorship race, despite earlier indications of his interest. Adelabu’s stance also contradicts earlier reports claiming he had stepped down, with a widely circulated resignation letter later debunked as fake.
The directive, issued by President Tinubu in mid-March in line with the Electoral Act, 2026, required all political appointees with electoral ambitions to vacate their positions on or before March 31.
Sources within the OSGF revealed that about 40 resignation letters were received, largely from heads of federal agencies and parastatals. However, the identities of those who complied have not been officially disclosed.
The only publicly confirmed high-profile resignation earlier in the week was that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar. Subsequent checks, however, indicate that more members of the Federal Executive Council have since stepped down.
Among them are the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Sununu, both reportedly resigning to pursue governorship ambitions.
Alkali was spotted at the State House on Tuesday holding talks with the President, fueling speculation about Adelabu plans to contest the Gombe State governorship election.
In a similar development, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Ahmed Galadima Aminu, has resigned to pursue the Adamawa State governorship under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
There are also indications that Dr. Mathias Terwase Byuan, Executive Director (Finance and Accounts) at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), has stepped down from his role. Additionally, an aide in the Office of the SGF, also identified as Mathias Byuan and believed to be eyeing a seat in the House of Representatives, is reported to have resigned.
The OSGF experienced heightened activity throughout Tuesday, with several senior officials seen visiting the office in response to the directive. Among them was the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, whose status remained uncertain as of press time.
While one source claimed she retrieved her resignation letter, suggesting a possible change of mind, another source within her office insisted she had complied with the directive.
Despite the wave of exits, some senior officials earlier believed to be nursing political ambitions were yet to submit their resignation letters as of the time of filing this report, leaving the situation fluid and open to further developments.
