Transportation Minister Saidu Alkali resigns to contest Gombe governorship election

Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, has resigned from his position to run for the governorship in the 2027 election in Gombe state.

The announcement was made in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Umar Alkali Jibril, on Tuesday.

His resignation aligns with a directive from President Bola Tinubu requiring all political appointees seeking elective office to step down by March 31, 2026.

What they are saying 

According to the statement, Alkali, a native of Gombe State, formally submitted his resignation to the Presidency to pursue the governorship.

• “The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali has officially tendered his resignation to the Presidency. 
• “This move follows the presidential directive requiring all political appointees seeking elective offices to step down from their current roles.” 
• “The Minister is resigning to contest for the governorship in the upcoming elections.” 

The statement added that the Presidency confirmed receipt of his resignation and acknowledged his service in office.

Backstory

Earlier in March, President Bola Tinubu issued a directive requiring all political appointees under his administration seeking elective positions in the 2027 elections to resign on or before March 31, 2026.

• This directive covers Ministers, Ministers of State, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, and personal assistants to the President.
• Saidu Alkali’s resignation is consistent with a broader trend of cabinet members and political appointees stepping down to prepare for party primaries ahead of the elections.

The Presidency emphasized that the directive ensures compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026, and facilitates a smooth transition for those intending to run for office.

What you should know 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) revised the timetable for the 2027 general elections in February 2026.

• Presidential and National Assembly elections have been moved from February 20, 2027, to January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will now hold on February 6, 2027.
• INEC has projected a significant increase in funding requirements for the 2027 general elections compared to previous cycles.
• The electoral body proposed a budget of N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 elections.

INEC also requested an additional N171 billion to fund its operations in 2026.

This represents a sharp increase from the N314.4 billion released for the 2023 elections.