Niger Govt Directs Political Appointees Eyeing 2027 Elections to Resign by March 23

By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Government has directed all political appointees and public office holders intending to contest el...

By Awwal Umar Kontagora

The Niger State Government has directed all political appointees and public office holders intending to contest elective positions in the 2027 general elections to resign their appointments on or before March 23, 2026.

The directive was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, following the release of the revised timetable for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the timetable released by INEC, elections for the President and members of the National Assembly will take place on January 16, 2027, while elections for state governors and members of the State Houses of Assembly are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

The electoral body also indicated that political parties will begin their primaries on April 23, 2026, as part of preparations for the general elections.

Alhaji Usman explained that the directive was necessary to ensure compliance with electoral laws and guidelines governing participation in elective offices.

He noted that the law requires public office holders who intend to contest elections to resign their appointments at least one month before the commencement of party primaries.

The SSG therefore urged all affected political appointees and government officials in the state with political ambitions to submit their resignations before the stipulated deadline to avoid violating electoral regulations.

“I am to draw the attention of all political appointees and other government officials who desire to contest elective positions that the conduct of party primaries is expected to commence from April 23, 2026,” he said.

“In line with this development, all such appointees and officials are advised to resign their appointments by March 23, 2026, in order to meet the one-month requirement before seeking elective positions.”

Usman reiterated the state government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all political activities in the state strictly conform with constitutional and electoral provisions.