According to Daily Post, President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm directive requiring all political appointees with ambitions for the 2027 general elections to relinquish their current positions by March 31, 2026. This move, announced via the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), is designed to prevent the use of state resources for political campaigning and to ensure that governance does not suffer as the election season approaches.
The directive applies to ministers, heads of agencies, and other senior aides. It comes as political jockeying intensifies, with several high-profile figures already being linked to governorship and legislative seats. The President’s stance is seen as an attempt to maintain discipline within the cabinet and focus on his administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda during the remaining two years of his first term.
The Guardian reported on the internal shifts, noting that “the directive aims to safeguard the integrity of the political process,” while Premium Times highlighted that “the OSGF has been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the resignation deadline.”
Echotitbits take: This is a preemptive strike to clear out “distracted” members of the cabinet. It will likely lead to a major cabinet reshuffle in April, providing an opportunity for the President to bring in fresh faces or reward loyalists who are not seeking elective office.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/tinubu-directs-political-appointees-seeking-elective-positions-to-resign-march-31/, March 18, 2026
Photo credit: The Punch
