Saidu Alkali Resigns as Transport Minister for Gombe Governorship

Saidu Alkali, the current Transportation Minister of Nigeria, announced his resignation to pursue the governorship of Gombe State in the upcoming 2027 elections. This decision was communicated through a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Umar Alkali Jibril, on Tuesday.

Alkali's resignation is in compliance with President Bola Tinubu's directive, which requires political appointees intending to seek elective office to resign by March 31, 2026. The statement confirmed that Alkali, a native of Gombe State, formally submitted his resignation to the President, who acknowledged receipt and appreciated his service.

The resignation is part of the preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) revising the timetable for the elections scheduled for February 2026. Additionally, INEC has requested an additional N171 billion to facilitate its operations for the 2026 elections, representing a significant increase from the N314.4 billion released for the 2023 elections.