Three indigenes of Oyo State serving in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are expected to resign from their positions as they prepare to contest in the 2027 general elections.
The planned resignation follows a directive by the President mandating all political appointees seeking elective offices to step down before March 31.
The directive was confirmed in a statement issued by Dewan Goshit, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
According to the statement, affected appointees must vacate their offices ahead of the 2027 elections to ensure compliance with electoral guidelines.
The circular partly read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all political appointees under his administration who intend to contest elective offices in the forthcoming 2027 general elections to resign their appointments on or before March 31, 2026. The directive is pursuant to the provisions of Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the timetable issued by the INEC for party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“In a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, which was issued by the Permanent Secretary General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, the resignation requirement applies to all categories of presidential political appointees who wish to participate in the forthcoming party primaries or seek nomination for any elective office.”
According to Daily Post, those expected to resign include the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu; and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan.
All three are said to be gubernatorial aspirants under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
Adelabu, who hails from Ibadan, currently serves as Minister of Power, having been appointed in 2023.
Shittu, from Saki in Oke Ogun, is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, a role he assumed in June 2024.
Olaniyan, a former deputy governor, is the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education Special Oyo, a position he took up in July 2024.
Findings indicate that none of the three officials has formally resigned as of the time of filing this report.
However, sources suggest that their exit is imminent as they move to comply with the President’s directive and pursue their political ambitions.
The development signals the early build-up to the 2027 governorship race in Oyo State, with key political figures already positioning themselves for the contest.
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