A native of Ewohimi in the Esan Southeast Local Government Area, Edo Central Senatorial District, Ighodalo's decision to step down from his position was disclosed in a corporate filing on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Friday. Uaboi Agbebaku, the company secretary, conveyed that Ighodalo's resignation will become effective on December 31, 2023.

In the official statement, Nigerian Breweries explained, "The chairman informed the board today of his decision to offer himself for public service. As a result, he will be resigning from the board and as the chairman of the board on the 31st of December 2023 to enable him to devote his full attention to the new cause."

To facilitate a smooth transition, the company has appointed Sijbe Hiemstra, the longest-serving director, to act as the interim chairman starting from January 1, 2024. Ighodalo initially joined the Board on January 1, 2022, and assumed the role of non-executive chairman on May 1, 2023. This development marks a significant step in Ighodalo's political journey as he prepares to focus entirely on his aspirations for public service in the upcoming gubernatorial election.