Kwara Asks Civil Servants Seeking  Elective Offices to Resign with Immediate Effect 

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin 

Civil servants in the  Kwara State public service, who are interested in contesting elective offices in the 2027 elections have been asked to resign with immediate effect.

The state government gave the directive through the office of the state Head of Service, contained in a circular dated March 13, 2026.

The government said the decision followed the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, which the Independent National Electoral Commission released recently.

The circular, which  was signed by Dr Okedare Adeyinka on behalf of the state Head of Service, Dr Mercy Olufunke Shittu, was addressed to heads of government establishments such as commissioners, chairmen of commissions, and heads of extra-ministerial departments across the state.

The government said its directive to the concerned civil servants was in line with constitutional provisions.

The letter read: “Consequent on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s issuance of a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election, it is imperative for the Office of the Head of Service to reiterate that civil servants, who seek elective public offices are to resign their appointments.”

The circular stated that the directive was in line with Paragraph 2(a) of Part I of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the Code of Conduct for public officers.

“In addition, the attention of all concerned is also drawn to the provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR 04421 and 04422),” the letter added.

The government said the concerned civil servants were expected to comply strictly with the directive if they intended to participate in the forthcoming elections.

“Civil servants, who intend to contest for elective offices in the upcoming elections, are required to comply accordingly,” it stated.