BAUCHI — The high-stakes political gamble taken by former ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet ahead of the 2027 general elections has produced more setbacks than successes. Out of the five former members of the Federal Executive Council who resigned their coveted federal appointments to seek elective offices, only two have successfully secured their respective party tickets.
The latest and perhaps most high-profile casualty of this political reality is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar. He lost the All Progressives Congress governorship primary in Bauchi State, despite months of intense political mobilization, nationwide visibility, and deep grassroots consultations.
The official results declared at the Bauchi primary showed that Yusuf Tuggar polled 26,011 votes to finish a distant second. The contest was dominated by the former governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, who secured a commanding victory and the party's mandate with 57,517 votes. Another prominent aspirant in the race, Bala Wunti, finished third after polling 13,648 votes.
Tuggar's defeat effectively marks the end of his immediate gubernatorial ambition and solidifies a dismal scorecard for the majority of the former cabinet members who left the federal executive to test their popularity at the local level.
The wave of resignations within the federal cabinet was triggered by a strict presidential directive requiring all political appointees seeking elective offices to step down before participating in party primaries. This directive was enforced in strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which looks to prevent the abuse of state power and federal machinery during internal party contests.
Among the high-profile cabinet members who stepped down from the Federal Executive Council in search of greener political pastures were:
Yusuf Tuggar, former Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Yusuf Sununu, former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs;
Saidu Alkali, former Minister of Transportation;
Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, former Minister of State for Labour and Employment; and
Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Power.
Of these five figures, only Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and Yusuf Sununu managed to navigate the turbulent waters of local party politics to emerge victorious.
Onyejeocha secured a smooth return by clinching the APC ticket for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State after standing unopposed during the primary election. Similarly, Yusuf Sununu successfully preserved his political base by winning the APC ticket for the Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency in Kebbi State.
For the remaining three former ministers, the transition from federal administration to grassroots campaigning proved to be far less rewarding.
Before Tuggar's loss in Bauchi, the former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, suffered a crushing defeat in the Oyo State APC governorship primary. Adelabu lost the ticket to Senator Sarafadeen Alli, a result that Adelabu quickly rejected. The former minister released a public statement alleging widespread procedural irregularities, systemic manipulation, and targeted voter suppression during the Oyo exercise.
In a similar vein, the former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, failed to secure the APC governorship ticket in Gombe State. Alkali’s campaign ran into a brick wall after he boycotted the primary election entirely, citing structural irregularities and an uneven playing field. In his absence, the Gombe contest was won by Jamilu Gwamna, who enjoyed the active backing and formidable political machinery of the incumbent governor, Inuwa Yahaya.
With Tuggar's defeat now officially confirmed, the final performance metrics of President Tinubu’s former cabinet members serve as a stark reminder of the division between federal influence and local delegate control.
While ministerial positions provide individuals with national prominence, substantial institutional leverage, and media visibility, these primaries have demonstrated that local alliances, entrenched grassroots structures, and internal party dynamics remain the ultimate deciding factors in Nigerian electoral politics.
For these five politicians, resigning from the Federal Executive Council was a calculated risk aimed at advancing their executive or legislative careers. As the dust settles on the primary season, only two have reaped the rewards of that gamble, while three have seen their immediate political ambitions either stalled by internal boycotts or outright rejected by party delegates.
