Tinubu Orders Appointees Eyeing 2027 Elections To Resign Before March 31

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

The directive was disclosed on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through its Head of Information and Public Relations, Dewan Goshit.

The move is widely seen as a proactive measure to enforce political neutrality in government and curb the use of public office for electoral advantage.

The development comes on the heels of a revised election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Under the new schedule, presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.

INEC had initially fixed February 20, 2027, for the presidential poll and March 6 for governorship elections but adjusted the dates following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of a new Electoral Act 2026, which necessitated a restructuring of the electoral calendar.

The earlier timetable had sparked criticism from stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who warned that the February date coincided with the Ramadan fasting period and could negatively affect voter turnout, particularly among Muslim communities.

With the revised dates now in place, the President’s directive is expected to trigger early political realignments within the ruling establishment, as appointees with electoral ambitions prepare to exit their positions.

Analysts say the order could lead to a wave of resignations across federal ministries, departments, and agencies, potentially reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of what is projected to be a highly competitive 2027 election cycle.