Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned from his position to pursue his governorship ambition in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tuggar, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reportedly submitted his resignation on Monday, just hours before the deadline set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for political appointees with electoral ambitions to vacate office.
The directive, anchored on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, requires all affected officials to step down on or before March 31, 2026, ahead of party primaries for the 2027 polls.
Tuggar’s exit follows growing speculation about his interest in contesting the Bauchi State governorship under the APC platform. His resignation is expected to pave the way for active political engagement as alignments intensify ahead of the elections.
A seasoned diplomat and policymaker, Tuggar was appointed minister in August 2023. He previously served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023, where he played a key role in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting trade cooperation.
His political career also includes representing the Gamawa Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, alongside previous attempts at the Bauchi governorship.
With the deadline now in effect, more resignations are anticipated as other appointees seeking elective positions comply with the presidential directive, signaling the early build-up to the 2027 general elections.
