Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has stepped down from his position, in line with directives issued ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His resignation was confirmed on Monday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, bringing an end to his tenure in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu.
The move followed an earlier directive by President Tinubu requiring all political appointees seeking elective offices in 2027 to resign on or before March 31.
The decision, according to the presidency, is anchored on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries.
Tuggar’s exit comes amid growing speculation that he is preparing to contest the 2027 governorship election in Bauchi State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A seasoned diplomat and policymaker, Tuggar was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in August 2023.
Over the years, he has built a career spanning diplomacy, politics, energy, and strategic consulting, earning recognition for his contributions to Nigeria’s international relations.
Before joining the cabinet, he served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023, where he played a key role in strengthening bilateral ties and promoting trade cooperation between both countries.
His political experience also includes representing the Gamawa Constituency of Bauchi State in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011.
He later made attempts at the state’s governorship in previous election cycles.
During his time as foreign minister, Tuggar led Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements under the Tinubu administration, contributing to the country’s foreign policy direction and global positioning.
His resignation marks one of the first major cabinet changes ahead of the 2027 elections, as political alignments and ambitions begin to take shape across the country.
