All public employees, political appointees, and government employees planning 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 in strict accordance with the Electoral Act (Amendment) 2026 in a Government Special Announcement dated February 28, 2026.

The statement, which was signed by Umar Musa Ikhilor, the Secretary to the State Government, cautioned that any officer who intends to take part in party primaries or any other election procedure must first resign from their job within the allotted period.

It pointed out that candidates who don’t follow the rules run the risk of being disqualified by the appropriate electoral authorities.

The statement stated, “This directive is issued in strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) 2026, and is aimed at ensuring that all aspiring candidates do not run the risk of disqualification by the relevant electoral authorities.”

According to the administration, the goal of the policy 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 simultaneously promoting fairness, transparency, and a level playing field for all aspirants.”

In order to guarantee complete compliance, the Edo Governor instructed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to distribute the notice as widely as possible.