All government employees, political appointees, and public servants who want to run for elective office in the upcoming election cycle have been instructed by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to step down by March 1, 2026, at the latest.
The Okpebholo government stated that the decision was made strictly in accordance with the Electoral Act (Amendment) 2026 in a Government Special Announcement dated February 28, 2026.
Any officer who intends to take part in party primaries or any other election procedure must first resign from their job within the allotted time, according to the statement, which was signed by Umar Musa Ikhilor, the Secretary to the State Government.
It stated that candidates run the possibility of being disqualified by the appropriate electoral authorities if they don’t comply.
The statement stated, “This directive is issued in strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) 2026, and is intended to ensure that all aspiring candidates do not run the risk of being disqualified by the relevant electoral authorities.”
The administration clarified that the goal of the move was to encourage equity, openness, and a level playing field for all candidates.
It further emphasized that partisan political involvement should not jeopardize governance duties and that the impartiality and integrity of public institutions must be protected.
It said, “The government stresses that this requirement is meant to safeguard the integrity and neutrality of public institutions while also promoting fairness, transparency, and a level playing field for all aspirants.”
To guarantee complete compliance, the Edo Governor instructed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to distribute the notification as widely as possible.
