Two Nigerian states, Kwara and Cross River, have moved to draw a clear line between public service and political ambition, issuing firm directives that officials eyeing elective positions in the 2027 general elections must first vacate their posts.

In Kwara, a government circular instructed civil servants intending to contest any elective office to resign in line with constitutional and public service regulations. The circular, issued from the Office of the Head of Service and addressed to commissioners, heads of commissions and extra-ministerial departments, referenced the revised timetable for the 2027 polls released by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the trigger for the reminder.

The document cited Paragraph 2(a) of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, which forms part of the Code of Conduct for public officers, as well as specific provisions of the Public Service Rules. Together, these bar serving civil servants from engaging in partisan contests while still on the government payroll.

The circular stressed that any officer with political aspirations must “resign their appointments” before entering the race, warning that compliance was mandatory for those seeking to participate in party primaries and subsequent electoral activities.

In Cross River, Governor Bassey Otu issued a parallel order targeting members of the State Executive Council and all political appointees. He announced that anyone in his administration planning to run in 2027 must step down by a specified deadline, framing the move as a matter of principle and governance ethics.

Addressing his cabinet, Otu argued that public office is a “sacred trust” that should not be conflated with personal ambition. He said the directive was designed to prevent distractions, keep the machinery of government focused on service delivery and ensure a level playing field among aspirants who might otherwise leverage state resources or influence.

Both states’ positions align with a broader push to separate governance from electioneering as the 2027 timetable gathers momentum. INEC’s schedule sets party primaries for late April to the end of May 2026, with national elections to follow in early 2027, intensifying pressure on serving officials to declare their intentions and, where required, relinquish their posts.

The emerging pattern underscores a tightening of rules around political participation by public officers, reinforcing long-standing legal provisions that have often been unevenly enforced in previous election cycles.