Among the first high-profile exits is Nasir Bala Aminu, popularly known as Ja’oji, Senior Special Assistant on Citizenship and Leadership to President Bola Tinubu.
In his formal resignation submitted yesterday, Aminu signaled his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat for Tarauni Constituency, Kano State, citing adherence to the SGF directive. He expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and emphasized the administration’s commitment to youth development as a defining principle of its governance agenda.
Earlier, Rauf Olaniyan, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, resigned his appointment to pursue the governorship of Oyo State. Olaniyan’s departure underscores a broader trend of strategic repositioning among political actors across the country as the primaries for party nominations draw near.
Reports indicate that in Ondo State, at least nine political appointees are actively exploring elective positions, with grassroots mobilization already underway through constituency visits and the circulation of campaign paraphernalia.
Similarly, in Plateau, Kogi, and Abia States, political officeholders are strategically timing their resignations, balancing statutory compliance with careful stakeholder engagement to optimize their electoral prospects.
Political analysts noted that the staggered resignations reflect a calculated approach by aspirants who seek to comply with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates the resignation of political appointees intending to contest elective offices.
Observers suggested that the timing of such resignations can signal political ambition, influence intra-party negotiations, and impact aspirants’ visibility ahead of party primaries.
“The process of resigning from a political appointment to contest an elective office is deliberate,” a Plateau State source told our correspondent on condition of anonymity.
“It requires comprehensive stakeholder consultations, mobilization of resources, and strategic planning. Electioneering is capital-intensive, and early missteps can undermine the campaign’s effectiveness.”
The SGF’s directive covers a wide spectrum of political appointees, including ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal assistants to the President, and the leadership of federal parastatals, agencies, and commissions.
All affected officials were instructed to submit formal resignations to the SGF’s office no later than March 31, 2026, ahead of APC primaries and the 2027 general elections.
With the APC National Convention concluded, the political landscape is expected to gain clarity as aspirants formalize their intentions.
Analysts argue that early resignations, particularly by high-profile aides and former state executives, may serve as a barometer for intra-party alignments and the emerging power dynamics ahead of next year’s pivotal electoral contests.
As the countdown to March 31 continues, political watchers are closely monitoring the pace of resignations, anticipating a cascade of exits that will shape the candidate line-up and set the tone for a highly competitive 2027 electoral season.
