Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned from his position to pursue his ambition of contesting for the governorship of Bauchi State.
The development was confirmed on Monday in a brief statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who stated, “The resignation of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs is confirmed.”
Tuggar’s exit from the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been widely anticipated, following earlier reports that some ministers were preparing to step down to pursue political ambitions ahead of upcoming elections.
His Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, had previously confirmed the minister’s intention to run for the top seat in Bauchi.
“The minister is interested and aspires to run for the governorship seat of Bauchi State,” Abdulkadir said.
Addressing questions about the timing of the resignation, he noted that Tuggar would comply with the electoral guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“There is a timetable released by INEC that stipulates all the rules and regulations for running; he will adhere to this,” he added.
Tuggar, a native of Udubo in Gamawa Local Government Area, has previously contested for the governorship position in Bauchi State.
His resignation marks a significant political move as the race for the state’s top office begins to gather momentum.