Transportation Minister Saidu Alkali Resigns to Contest Gombe Governorship in 2027

 

Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, has resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet to pursue his ambition for the Gombe State governorship in the 2027 general elections.

The resignation, announced by the State House on Tuesday evening, March 31, 2026, follows a presidential directive requiring ministers and other political appointees nursing elective ambitions to step down by the end of March.

Alkali, a former senator representing Gombe North, is expected to contest the governorship seat to succeed incumbent Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose second term ends in May 2027.

A press release issued by his media team confirmed the development, describing the move as compliance with the directive while positioning Alkali to serve his home state at the gubernatorial level.

Alkali was appointed Minister of Transportation in August 2023. During his tenure, he oversaw efforts to modernize Nigeria’s transport infrastructure, including policies on rail, road, maritime, and inland waterways, as well as budget presentations highlighting challenges such as low capital releases for the ministry.

His exit comes amid a wave of resignations and consultations by several ministers ahead of the 2027 polls, as political realignments intensify across the country.

No immediate replacement has been announced for the Transportation Ministry.

Stakeholders in Gombe State have already begun speculating on the implications of Alkali’s entry into the race, with some describing him as a strong contender given his legislative experience and federal exposure.

The development is seen as a significant boost to the political landscape in Gombe as parties prepare for internal primaries.