Adebayo Adelabu Resigns As Power Minister, Signals Oyo Governorship Ambition
•By Admin
IBADAN — THE Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has formally tendered his resignation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring his intention to contest the forthcoming governorship election in Oyo State.
In a letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu said his resignation would take effect from April 30, 2026, noting that the notice period was designed to ensure a smooth and orderly transition at the Ministry of Power.
A copy of the letter was also forwarded through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
In the correspondence, the minister expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve in his cabinet, describing his tenure as a privilege.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector, one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation,” he stated.
Adelabu explained that his decision to step down was driven by a long-standing political ambition to govern Oyo State, tracing the aspiration back to 2016 during his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He added that he had previously resigned from the apex bank in 2018 in pursuit of the same ambition.
The outgoing minister also cited provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which prohibit public office holders from remaining in office while contesting elections, noting that his resignation was in compliance with the law.
As of the time of filing this report, President Tinubu has yet to announce a successor or an acting minister to oversee the Ministry of Power.