Tuggar resigns as Foreign Affairs Minister to pursue Bauchi governorship

By Fortune Abang

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned his position as he prepares to contest the Bauchi State governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development on Monday through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who said the minister submitted his resignation letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to Ebienfa, Tuggar’s decision was in compliance with a presidential directive mandating all political appointees seeking elective offices in the 2027 general elections to step down on or before March 31, 2026.

“The minister has tendered his resignation in line with the directive,” the spokesperson said in a chat with diplomatic correspondents in Abuja.

The directive, conveyed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, affects ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants and heads of federal agencies.

It is anchored on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, aimed at preventing conflicts of interest ahead of the 2027 polls.

Tuggar, 59, is a seasoned diplomat and organisational analyst who previously served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany. He has also held various roles in both the public and private sectors.

His resignation signals an early alignment of key political figures ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly in Bauchi State, where the governorship contest is expected to draw significant attention.