Tinubu’s Ex-Ministers Lose Party Tickets in Primary Defeats
The high-stakes political gamble by former ministers who resigned from the Federal Executive Council to pursue elective offices has largely backfired during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections. Five cabinet members stepped down from their federal positions in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates political appointees to resign before seeking elective posts ahead of the 2027 general election. However, the internal party contests have yielded grim results for the majority of these ambitious politicians. Only two of the five departed ministers have successfully secured the APC tickets for their respective constituencies.
Former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu suffered a crushing defeat in his bid to capture the Oyo State governorship ticket. Senator Sarafadeen Alli soundly beat the former minister, polling 578,143 votes against Adelabu’s meager 19,193 votes. Adelabu has since rejected the results, alleging widespread intimidation, manipulation, and violence across several voting wards. His media team claims the declared figures do not reflect the reality of the process, though party administrators have moved quickly to ratify the outcome of the ballot.
In Gombe State, the former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, fared no better after losing the governorship ticket to Jamilu Gwamna. Gwamna, who enjoys the open backing of the incumbent governor, Inuwa Yahaya, secured the ticket with 247,161 votes. Alkali boycotted the primary process entirely at the eleventh hour, citing a severe lack of fairness, inclusivity, and credibility in the state party apparatus. Despite the public boycott, his media team insists that the former minister remains in the race and has no immediate plans to defect from the APC.
The political future of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, also hangs in the balance as the Bauchi State primary faces severe delays. Tuggar’s supporters have threatened a mass defection from the ruling party following strong indications that the APC leadership plans to impose former Governor Muhammad Abubakar as a consensus candidate. Representatives from the Tuggar Foundation publicly warned that they will not remain in a local party chapter where internal democracy is routinely undermined. The brewing crisis threatens to splinter the state opposition coalition before the main election.
By contrast, former Minister of State for Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs Yusuf Sununu emerged as the only successful cabinet defectors. Onyejeocha clinched her House of Representatives ticket in Abia State unopposed, while Sununu secured a federal constituency ticket in Kebbi State after strategically stepping down from a contentious senatorial race. For the rest of the departed cabinet, the premature exodus from Abuja has yielded neither state power nor federal relevance, leaving them entirely at the mercy of state governors.