Nigeria’s political landscape is witnessing early realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with high-profile resignations and shifting alliances emerging at both federal and state levels.
In Kano State, parallel developments are underscoring the deepening realignments within the political space. Former Deputy Governor Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna has resigned from his position at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Gawuna’s defection is seen as a significant political shift in Kano’s opposition landscape, potentially reshaping alliances ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Adding to the political tension, lawmakers from Kano South reportedly shunned a scheduled meeting with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, an action interpreted by observers as a sign of growing dissent and internal fractures within the state’s political structure.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, has resigned from the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, just hours before the March 31, 2026 deadline set for political appointees seeking elective office.
The resignation, confirmed Tuesday evening by the State House media office, followed a meeting between Alkali and the President at the Presidential Villa. The former senator is widely expected to contest the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State, positioning himself as a likely successor to incumbent Governor Inuwa Yahaya, whose second term ends in May 2027.
Alkali’s exit aligns with a directive issued by the Presidency through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Announced on March 17, the directive mandated all political appointees with electoral ambitions to resign on or before March 31, 2026, in compliance with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The provision requires officeholders to step down before participating in party primaries, a measure aimed at ensuring a level playing field and preventing the misuse of state resources. According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), party primaries will hold between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while submission of candidates’ names will close on July 11 for presidential and National Assembly elections, and August 8 for governorship and state assembly races.
Alkali’s resignation is part of a wave of exits from the Federal Executive Council, signaling the start of intense political maneuvering ahead of 2027.
Taken together, these developments at both federal and state levels highlight an intensifying phase of political recalibration, as key actors reposition themselves in anticipation of the 2027 elections.
