2027: Tinubu Orders All Appointees Seeking Elective Offices To Resign March 31

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all political appointees in his administration aspiring to contest elective positions in the 2027 general elections to resign their posts on or before March 31, 2026.

NaijaChoice News reports that the directive, contained in a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, aligns with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026. This section prohibits political appointees from serving as voting delegates or being voted for at party conventions, congresses, or primaries unless they have resigned.

The circular, issued through Permanent Secretary General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, stresses that the measure supports the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for party primaries leading to the 2027 polls. Recent revisions to the electoral calendar place presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, with governorship and state assembly votes scheduled for February 6, 2027, prompting earlier preparations including primaries expected to commence around April 2026.

The resignation order covers a broad range of presidential appointees intending to participate in party primaries or seek nominations. These include:

• Honourable Ministers and Ministers of State
• Special Advisers to the President
• Senior Special Assistants to the President
• Special Assistants to the President
• Personal Assistants to the President
• Directors-General and Chief Executive Officers of federal parastatals, agencies, commissions, and government-owned companies
• All other political appointees of the President

Affected officials must submit formal resignation letters to the Office of the SGF no later than the March 31 deadline.

President Tinubu emphasized that the step promotes strict adherence to electoral laws, ensures transparency, and creates a level playing field for all aspirants. The President reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to bolstering democratic institutions and fostering credible elections across Nigeria.

This development follows similar directives in some states, such as Niger, where appointees were asked to step down by late March 2026 to comply with pre-primary resignation rules. The federal directive underscores efforts to prevent conflicts of interest and allow appointees to focus fully on campaigns without leveraging official positions.