Last‑Minute Lobbying Gripped Aso Rock As Ministers Met Deadlin

Last‑Minute Lobbying Gripped Aso Rock as Ministers Met Deadline Foreign Affairs Minister Resigns to Contest Bauchi Governorship After Consultations As the March 31 deadline set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for political appointees with electoral ambitions approached, intense last‑minute lobbying and consultations dominated the atmosphere at Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. The directive, communicated through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), required all ministers and political appointees planning to contest elective offices in the 2027 general elections to resign on or before March 31 to comply with electoral law and internal party rules. Amid this tense build‑up, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, officially tendered his resignation in line with the presidential directive to pursue the Bauchi State governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner. The Foreign Affairs Ministry held a valedictory service in Abuja on Monday evening in honour of Tuggar’s service. In his resignation letter, Tuggar conveyed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and highlighted his role in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy under the administration’s “4D” strategy emphasizing Democracy, Development, Diaspora and Demography. During his tenure, Tuggar was credited with deepening bilateral and multilateral relations, facilitating humanitarian evacuations, enhancing support for Nigerians abroad, and strengthening Nigeria’s engagement with global partners. Before submitting his resignation, a number of cabinet members were reported to be holding critical consultations with key stakeholders within the Presidency as they weighed their decisions on stepping down to meet the electoral deadline illustrating the political calculations being made within the corridors of power. A source within the Villa explained that ministers hesitant to resign were waiting for clearer signals from the President before proceeding, especially around endorsements or political backing a factor seen as influential in their decision making. With the deadline now elapsed, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is poised for significant reshaping as more ministers and political appointees exit to pursue elective ambitions. It remains unclear whether President Tinubu will undertake a cabinet reshuffle to fill the vacancies created by these resignations. Tuggar’s resignation marks one of the first high‑profile exits among Tinubu’s cabinet ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle and highlights the broader political mobility shaping Nigeria’s political landscape in this election season.