Adebayo Adelabu Resigns as Power Minister, Against Tinubu’s Wish

Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The resignation, contained in a letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, takes effect from April 30, 2026.

Adelabu’s media aide, Femi Awogboro, confirmed that the minister received the President’s blessing before stepping down.

According to Presidency sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, President Tinubu had personally tried to dissuade Adelabu from quitting. The President reportedly delayed meetings with him for weeks and sent intermediaries to caution him against the move.

A top government official disclosed that during a Tuesday meeting at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu directly asked Adelabu about his chances of winning the APC governorship ticket in Oyo. Adelabu responded confidently that he would secure both the ticket and the election.

The President then wished him well, insiders told NaijaChoice News.

This development comes weeks after Tinubu directed all political appointees eyeing elective offices in the 2027 polls to resign on or before March 31, 2026, in line with the Electoral Act, 2026, and INEC’s timetable for party primaries.

While four other ministers resigned within the March 31 deadline, Adelabu’s exit came 22 days later. Sources insisted the delay was administrative and fell within the legal window provided by the Electoral Act, which requires resignation 30 days before primaries.

Credible sources within the Presidency maintained that Adelabu was not sacked but left voluntarily. They revealed that Tinubu had considered him for the position of Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy following the exit of Wale Edun.

The President had defended Adelabu’s performance in the power sector despite public criticism over grid collapses and electricity tariffs, describing power sector challenges as a collective issue requiring fixes at multiple levels.

Adelabu, who contested the Oyo governorship under the Accord Party in 2023 and lost to Governor Seyi Makinde, had in October 2025 publicly declared his renewed bid for 2027, stating it was “Adelabu time.”

His media aide highlighted the warm reception Adelabu received upon arrival at Alakia Airport in Ibadan on April 23, describing it as a strong indication of grassroots support across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas.

The resignation of the former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor underscores his long-standing political ambition in Oyo, a key state in Nigeria’s South-West geopolitical zone.

This move highlights the delicate balance between loyalty to the Tinubu administration and personal political aspirations as the countdown to the 2027 elections intensifies.