• Cabinet reshuffle imminent as appointees quit FEC
• Foreign Affairs ministry sends forth Tuggar

It was a different atmosphere yesterday in the Villa as last-minute shopping for ‘Green Light’ pervaded Aso Rock, the seat of presidential power, ahead of today’s deadline in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive for aspirants for elective offices to quit on or before March 31.

After days of pussyfooting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, yesterday braved the odds when he tendered his resignation in line with presidential directives on political participation to contest for the governorship of Bauchi State. A valedictory service was held for him by the ministry yesterday evening in Abuja.

Before Tuggar’s resignation went public yesterday, some members of the president’s cabinet were still involved in critical consultations with some key stakeholders in the presidency before dropping their letters with the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

In his letter of resignation, Tuggar expressed his profound gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the nation and to contribute to the implementation of the President’s 4D foreign policy strategy as a guiding framework for Nigeria’s foreign policy. He also expressed his sincere appreciation to the management and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as members of the diplomatic community, for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure.

During his time in office, the Minister demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives. His tenure was marked by several notable achievements, advancing people-centred diplomacy through humanitarian evacuations, scholarship facilitation, and sustained support for Nigerians abroad, enhancing diaspora engagement, including the development of a structured Nigerians-in-Diaspora database to deepen national participation. It was also a time of deepening bilateral and multilateral relations through strategic engagements with key traditional partners and regional alliances, especially in the global south.

His tenure will be remembered for promoting regional and security cooperation and the formation of the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD), driving economic diplomacy by positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for foreign investment, particularly in the energy sector and facilitating diplomatic resolutions that led to the release of detained Nigerians abroad and strengthened bilateral relations.

He submitted his letter of resignation to the SGF’s office before the stipulated deadline to hand over as stipulated by the electoral act and instructed by the President. Dr Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, received the letter on behalf of the SGF.

Before his ministerial appointment, Tuggar represented Gamawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 and later served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023.

The Guardian gathered that many of those in this situation were still jittery about their positions last night, despite the conclusion of the ruling party’s National Convention at the weekend. A source confirmed that they were waiting for the President to endorse and approve their resignation before going ahead.

“Sadly, they won’t get through at all. In this dispensation, anyone willing to resign should go through the SGF. That’s what the President gave as a directive to avoid anything that comes across as ‘endorsement’, which could send wrong signals across the party structures and ongoing discussions on consensus arrangements,” the source said.

Among those in the situation are the two ministers in the Labour ministry, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi (Minister of Labour and Employment) from Sokoto State, and the Minister of State for Labour, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha from Abia State. Both were still trying to get clearance at the Villa before dropping their resignation last night.

Many of those with governorship and legislative ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections are increasingly reluctant to resign, not for lack of interest, but because the political terrain within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has suddenly become uncertain and potentially hostile. At the heart of their anxiety is the growing agitation within the party for automatic tickets for incumbents and the expanding reliance on consensus arrangements as a conflict-management strategy.

Still betting on the odds
While these mechanisms are being promoted as tools for party unity, they are simultaneously narrowing the political space for new entrants, including serving ministers hoping to transition into elective offices. For many ambitious appointees, resignation without clarity on ticket allocation amounts to stepping into a political vacuum. The push by lawmakers and sitting governors for return tickets has altered political calculations across party ranks.

Incumbents, armed with grassroots structures and state machinery, are lobbying intensely to secure uncontested nominations, leaving prospective challengers unsure whether genuine primaries will even hold.

Consensus candidacy, increasingly favoured by party leaders after recent internal contests, has further deepened the uncertainty. Though presented as a stabilising formula, consensus often emerges from elite negotiations rather than open competition. Ministers fear that decisions on candidates may ultimately be settled through closed-door agreements dominated by governors and entrenched party power brokers long before aspirants formally declare interest.

In this environment, resigning early could mean surrendering federal visibility and influence only to discover that party tickets have already been effectively predetermined. Remaining in office, therefore, offers strategic leverage, access to networks, continued relevance, and time to read shifting political signals from the presidency and party hierarchy.

Equally significant is the absence of a clear presidential endorsement for any aspirant.

Tinubu’s cautious neutrality, interpreted by many as an attempt to prevent early factionalisation, has paradoxically intensified anxiety among ministers who must now weigh ambition against political survival without guarantees of backing.

What appears as cold feet is, in reality, a rational response to a party environment where ambition alone no longer determines political advancement; negotiation, timing and elite approval have become decisive factors. Until those variables become clearer, many ministers may choose to hold on to their positions rather than gamble on an uncertain political future.

Bolaji Tunji, spokesman to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, could not confirm whether his principal had resigned to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. When contacted yesterday, Tunji said: “Everything will become clearer in the next few days.”

It was the same with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. Despite previous denials of nursing any interest in running for the governorship of Lagos State, an aide to the minister, when asked the position of things yesterday, simply said: “He hasn’t stated categorically that he’s going to run. Tomorrow is almost here, we will know then.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Lagos State Governors’ Advisory Council (GAC), Bashorun Olorunfunmi, said the consensus arrangement has nothing to do with the delay in ministers’ resignations, noting that such decisions rest with party executives.

On the agitation for automatic tickets for incumbent elected officers, Olorunfunmi said it would depend on political realities in each state. He added: “Besides, if the party, through its think tank, puts heads together and sees that automatic tickets will be better, so be it.”

AHEAD of what will be the valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, there are indications that President Tinubu may still undertake a major cabinet reshuffle before politicking for the 2027 general elections gets into full gear from next month.

As at the time of going to press, Tuggar, who was the first ministerial appointee to announce his exit from FEC, has been joined by the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, while the Humanitarian Affairs is said to be finalising consultations before deciding whether to resign or not.

While Tuggar is associated with the governorship ambition for his home state of Bauchi, Sununu has declared his intention to seek the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Kebbi Central Senatorial Zone. Also, the North East representative in the Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Abdulrazak Namdas, has sent in his resignation, preparatory to contesting the ruling party’s governorship ticket for Adamawa State.

Sources in the Presidential Villa told The Guardian that it was not yet certain whether the president would undertake a cabinet reshuffle to fill the vacancies being created by the departing ministers, stressing that the decision is one that only the President would take. As the deadline for political appointees with ambitions in the 2027 general election elapses today, it is obvious that a significant reshaping of the FEC is underway.

Indications suggest that at least seven ministers are said to be contemplating exiting the cabinet to pursue their political aspirations.  Among those that have been mentioned are: Adebayo Adelabu, reportedly eyeing the Oyo State governorship, Ahmed Alkali, said to be interested in Gombe State, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, believed to be eyeing the governorship of Abia State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Muhammad Ali Pate and Dave Umahi, although no official confirmation had been made as of press time.

While compliance with electoral regulations remains the official justification, the unfolding developments point to a more strategic recalibration of the administration’s governing structure.

Since assuming office, President Tinubu has undertaken periodic cabinet adjustments, including restructuring ministries and redeploying key officials between 2024 and 2025.

The current wave of exits is therefore seen as an opportunity to deepen that process, potentially through the merging or renaming of ministries, elevation of junior ministers, and nomination of new entrants.

Presidency officials say the president may leverage this transition window to reward political loyalty, address regional expectations, and inject technocratic expertise into critical sectors, particularly among party stakeholders who stayed out of earlier contests.

The immediate impact of the exits is expected to be mixed, with both risks and opportunities for governance. Policy continuity concerns are prominent, especially in sectors such as power, agriculture, health, and transportation, where reforms and large-scale projects require sustained leadership.

While frequent turnover at the ministerial level can disrupt policy execution timelines, as incoming officials often need time to understand existing frameworks, budgets, and institutional dynamics, the reshuffle presents an opportunity for renewal. If replacements are competence-driven, ministries could benefit from fresh momentum, improved coordination, and sharper performance benchmarks. The lacuna also allows the administration to refine and re-align its cabinet with its medium-term political and economic priorities ahead of 2027.

However, there are concerns about election-centred governance, as the transition period may temporarily shift focus from service delivery to political positioning. This risk could intensify as party primaries approach and political actors recalibrate their ambitions.

In effect, the March 31 deadline marks more than a routine compliance exercise; it signals a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Tinubu administration. As the FEC thins out, attention will shift to the president’s next moves: who replaces the outgoing ministers, how portfolios are restructured, and whether the new configuration strengthens governance delivery or deepens political calculations.

Word making the rounds in Abuja suggests that the President plans to replace some of the departing appointees with critical stakeholders who lost out in the recent reconstitution of the APC National Working Committee that followed the party’s national convention.

The Guardian checks also revealed that the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, is eyeing Borno State governorship; Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Pius Akuta, is eyeing Benue State Governorship; Executive Director Finance and Accounts at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Dr Mathias Byuan, has his eyes also on Benue Governorship; Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Issa Onilu, and Professor Abubakar Suleiman, who is the Director General of Nigeria Institutes of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) both want to be governor of Kwara State.