The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from his position to pursue his ambition of becoming governor of Oyo State.
His resignation was conveyed in a letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The resignation is scheduled to take effect from April 30, 2026.
The letter, submitted through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was described as a formal step to ensure a smooth transition in the leadership of the power ministry.
In the correspondence, Adelabu said he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude,” noting that the decision was necessary to allow for an orderly handover of responsibilities.
He thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege and reflecting on his contributions to reforms in Nigeria’s power sector.
“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 wrote.
Adelabu explained that his resignation was driven by his desire to fully commit to his long-standing governorship ambition in Oyo State, an aspiration he said dates back to 2016 during his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He recalled resigning from the Central Bank in 2018 to pursue the same political goal.
The former minister also cited provisions of the amended electoral law as a key factor in his decision, noting that public office holders are restricted from contesting elections.
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time,” he stated.
His exit marks a significant development in the political landscape ahead of the next election cycle in Oyo State, as attention shifts to the emerging contest for the governorship seat.
