The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, has resigned from his position to pursue his governorship ambition in Gombe State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He announced his resignation on Tuesday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
With this decision, Alkali—a former senator for Gombe North—becomes the third member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to step down in compliance with the President’s recent directive.
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He joins the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, who are seeking the governorships of Kebbi and Bauchi States, respectively.
The development was confirmed by a circular issued by the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Ibrahim Kana, and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
According to the circular, the decision “follows the provisions of Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, as well as the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.”
The statement added that the Minister’s resignation complies with President Tinubu’s directive requiring cabinet members seeking elective positions to step down before participating in party primaries.