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.
According to the statement, Alkali, a native of Gombe State, formally submitted his resignation to the Presidency to pursue the governorship.
The statement added that the Presidency confirmed receipt of his resignation and acknowledged his service in office.
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.
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.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) revised the timetable for the 2027 general elections in February 2026.
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.