Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned from the Federal Executive Council ahead of the March 31, 2026 deadline set for political appointees seeking elective office.
The move follows a directive by President Bola Tinubu, mandating all political appointees with ambitions to contest in the 2027 general election to step down on or before the deadline.
The resignation was made known by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
Tuggar’s resignation comes just days after the conclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2026 National Convention.
The development has intensified scrutiny on cabinet members widely believed to be preparing to enter the 2027 electoral race.
A seasoned diplomat and politician, Tuggar previously represented the Gamawa Federal Constituency, Bauchi state, North East Nigeria, in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011.
He later served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany between 2017 and 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, before his appointment as Foreign Affairs Minister in 2023.