Minister’s aide resigns, declares for rep seat

The Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, has resigned his appointment and declared his intention to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives.

Tomori, who served under the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced his ambition in a statement issued on Sunday, titled “I am Running for House of Representatives to Bring Fresh Impetus, Dynamic Service.”

He said his decision to join the race to represent Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II in Lagos State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress was driven by years of political engagement and a desire to deepen democratic governance.

“I joined active politics in 2010, having closely followed Nigeria’s political trajectory from the run-up to the June 12, 1993 presidential election through its unfortunate annulment,” he said.

Tomori traced his political consciousness to the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, noting that the events surrounding the annulment shaped his interest in governance and public service.

“Witnessing the hope and excitement on the faces of my parents and other adults at the time struck a deep chord in me. The enthusiasm to follow the struggle for the de-annulment of that election deepened my affinity with politics,” he stated.

He added that his early exposure to pro-democracy struggles and political literature inspired his eventual alignment with progressive politics.

“I recall reading about the exploits and sacrifices of our President, Bola Tinubu, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Dan Suleiman, my boss Dele Alake and others who fought to galvanise the pro-democracy movement under NADECO, which contributed significantly to the restoration of democracy in 1999,” he said.

Tomori explained that he formally joined partisan politics after completing his National Youth Service, aligning with the then opposition party, the Action Congress of Nigeria.

“When I felt the time was ripe to join active politics, I made a deliberate decision to join Asiwaju Tinubu’s political family, the defunct ACN, despite the fact that it was in opposition at the time. I was motivated by its progressive ideals and the courage of its leaders during the June 12 struggle,” he said.

The former media aide said his over-a-decade-long experience across the legislative and executive arms of government has prepared him for the task ahead.

With over a decade of hands-on experience spanning both the National Assembly and the Executive, working with a member of the House of Representatives and two ministers, I believe the time has come to answer the call of my people,” he said.

He formally declared his aspiration, stating, “I hereby announce my intention to contest for the House of Representatives to represent the good people of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II under the platform of our great party, the APC.”

Tomori said his campaign would be driven by three core values — Service, Excellence, and Trust — which form the basis of his political agenda.

“These principles define who I am and form the foundation of my campaign, which I have tagged the SET Campaign, derived from the acronym of my name, Segun Tomori,” he stated.

According to him, his manifesto is built on eight key pillars designed to address critical needs within the constituency.

“Our manifesto is anchored on the Eight Pillars of SET, including community health outreach, support for women and vulnerable families, youth and sports talent development, education interventions, and initiatives to light up Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, among others,” he said.

He emphasised the need for purposeful legislation to improve the lives of constituents and Nigerians at large.

“There is much work to be done through purposeful legislation, not only to improve the welfare of our constituents but also to enhance the lives of the average Nigerian while contributing meaningfully to national development,” he said.

Tomori also pledged to bring youthful energy and fresh ideas into governance.

“I bring to this race the dynamism of youth, fresh ideas, and a proven ability to build consensus and deliver results, in complement to the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu,” he added.

Tomori’s resignation marks the latest in a series of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as aides and appointees position themselves for elective offices.

It also comes amid a directive by Bola Tinubu mandating political appointees seeking elective offices to step down from their positions to ensure transparency and avoid conflicts of interest ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The president asked them to resign in compliance with the Electoral Act.

The directive, conveyed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, affects ministers, advisers, and heads of government agencies.

In compliance, several members of the Federal Executive Council have resigned to pursue political ambitions. Among them are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to contest the Bauchi State governorship; the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, who is also eyeing a governorship seat; and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Sununu, who resigned to seek elective office.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, also resigned and is said to be returning to the National Assembly.