The Time Has Come for Political Appointees with Electoral Ambitions to Resign

The Time Has Come for Political Appointees with Electoral Ambitions to Resign

by Victor Okebunmi

There is an African proverb that says, “When the drumbeat changes, the dancer must adjust his steps.” In simple terms, when the season changes, you must change with it. And Nigeria’s political season has changed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria’s official body responsible for organising and conducting elections, has released the timetable for the 2027 General Elections. The dates are now public. The process has started. And for government appointees who want to contest for elective offices, the message is clear: it is time to start preparing your resignation letters.

The Electoral Act 2022 (now 2026) is very clear. Section 84(12) states that no political appointee may participate in party primaries as a delegate or aspirant while still holding their appointment. That means if you are a minister, commissioner, special adviser, board chairperson, agency head, or any political appointee, you must resign before you can contest in your party’s primary election.

*There is no confusion about it. If you want to run, you must step down now*.

According to INEC’s timetable, party primaries will take place between July 1 and September 30, 2026. So anyone who wants to contest must resign before their party’s primary starts. Not after buying nomination forms. Not while secretly meeting delegates. Not while quietly building a campaign team from inside a government office. The law says you must resign first.

This is not just about following rules for the sake of it. It is about fairness.

When you hold public office, you have influence. You have access. You have visibility. Even if you do not misuse government resources, people may still believe you are using your position to gain an advantage. That alone can damage trust. The law was designed to prevent that. It separates government work from political ambition.

The 2027 election process has already begun. Parties will finish primaries by the end of September 2026 or earlier. Names of candidates will be submitted in October or earlier. Campaigns will start in November or earlier. Nigerians will vote in January 2027 (according to the amended electoral act). Everything is arranged in order. Everyone is expected to obey the law.

It would be unwise for any appointee to think they can remain in office and still quietly campaign. This President is known to respect the rule of law and political structure. Anyone trying to “have their cake and eat it” may be shown the way out. It is better to resign with dignity than to be forced to resign.

Apart from what the law says, resigning is also the morally right thing to do. It is not only about rules, but it is also about doing what is fair. The responsibility is on the appointee. Government work is a full-time job paid for by taxpayers. When someone starts mixing government duties with political campaigning, the people are short-changed. Taxpayers are still paying salaries, allowances, and running costs, while the person is already focusing on personal political ambition. Even if nothing illegal is done, it does not look right, and it is not fair. The simple and honest thing to do is to step aside, allow someone else to continue the government work properly, and then focus fully on political ambition. That is cleaner, fairer, and shows integrity.

Resigning does not mean you have failed. It does not mean you are disloyal. In fact, it shows maturity and confidence. If you have served well, your record will speak for you. Step down honourably and go and test your popularity properly.

In serious democracies, this is normal practice. You cannot sit in an appointed office and at the same time seek party nomination. It protects fairness. It protects public funds. It protects the integrity of the process.

Honourable Nigerians should do honourable things. Public office is not a campaign platform. If you want to contest, resign. Face your party members as an equal. Let your ideas and your track record win support, not the power of your office.

The time is moving fast. Anyone serious about contesting in 2027 should already be preparing their resignation letter, not waiting for a warning or a directive from the Presidency. Do it because it is the right thing to do.

The season has changed. The law is clear. The timetable is out.

TIME TO RESIGN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE NATION.

*– Victor Okebunmi is Senior Special Assistant on Publicity to Renewed Hope Global*