In one of the most dramatic political reversals of the 2026 APC primaries season, three former federal ministers who resigned their cabinet positions in bold pursuit of elective tickets have all come away empty-handed — their gambles not only failing but leaving them without both their ministerial seats and their party tickets.
Their resignations were made in line with the Electoral Act 2026, with former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar resigning to contest the APC governorship ticket in Bauchi State, former Minister of Transportation Saidu Alkali stepping down to pursue the Gombe governorship ticket, and former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu resigning to contest the Oyo State governorship primaries.
In Oyo State, Adelabu suffered a crushing defeat as Senator Sharafadeen Alli won the governorship ticket with a landslide 578,143 votes, while the ex-Power Minister polled a distant 19,193 votes. A visibly aggrieved Adelabu alleged widespread manipulation of the primary results, warning that “there are a lot of gross misconducts in the other wards, ranging from various forms of infractions.”
In Gombe State, Alkali fared no better, polling only 11,612 votes against Jamilu Gwamna’s dominant 247,161 votes in a primary the ex-minister had earlier boycotted over alleged irregularities. Even former Minister of Communications Professor Isa Pantami, who scored 12,120 votes, outpaced the ex-transport minister.
Meanwhile, the fate of former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar in Bauchi still hangs in the balance, with his supporters threatening to leave the APC if the party imposes a governorship candidate on the zone.
Of all five ministers who resigned, only Nkeiruka Onyejeocha of Abia State, who clinched the APC ticket for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency as an unopposed candidate, and Yusuf Sununu, who secured the Kebbi senatorial ticket, have managed to secure their party tickets.
Political analysts describe the triple ministerial setback as a sobering lesson in the unpredictable nature of Nigerian party politics, where proximity to power offers no guaranteed protection from party machinery.
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