Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has dismissed reports suggesting that he plans to resign from office to pursue the Lagos State governorship in the 2027 elections.
Alausa debunked the speculation on Wednesday via his official X account, formerly known as Twitter, insisting that he remains focused on his responsibilities at the Federal Ministry of Education.
Tagging the originator of the claim, the minister wrote, “We’re still hard at work here at the FME, don’t believe the rumours.”
The clarification came after an All Progressives Congress (APC) supporter on X, Imran Muhammad, claimed that the minister might step down from his position to pursue a governorship ambition in Lagos State.
“According to a source, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, may resign in order to pursue his Lagos State governorship ambition,” Muhammad wrote in the post, adding that public office holders typically resign before embarking on campaigns for elective positions.
The claim quickly generated reactions online, particularly as political alignments and permutations gradually build ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship contest.
Also responding to the rumour, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, dismissed the speculation. He quoted the post alongside a video showing Alausa attending the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
“Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa currently at the Federal Executive Council Meeting,” Olusegun wrote.
Although the 2027 governorship race in Lagos is still some distance away, discussions around possible contenders have already begun to surface within political circles.
Names being mentioned as potential aspirants on the platform of the AlPC include the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; and Hakeem Muri-Okunola, among others. Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has also been mentioned in political speculations surrounding the race.
Alausa was appointed Minister of Education on October 23, 2024, following a cabinet reshuffle carried out by President Bola Tinubu. Before his redeployment, he served as the Minister of State for Health.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official indication that the minister intends to step down from his current role to pursue any electoral ambition.
