The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has formally resigned his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adelabu stated that his exit will take effect from April 30, 2026, to allow for a smooth and orderly transition.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, noted that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
Adelabu appreciated the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege and a platform to contribute to national development.
“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.
He explained that his resignation is to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, in compliance with provisions of the amended electoral law which restrict political office holders from contesting elections while in office.
According to him, the ambition dates back to 2016 during his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which led to his resignation from the apex bank in 2018 to pursue the same goal.
Adelabu’s exit signals a significant political development ahead of the next electoral cycle in Oyo State, where he is widely expected to join the governorship race.
The Ibadan-born politician previously contested the governorship election twice. In 2019, he ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but lost to the incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In 2023, following internal party disputes, he defected to the Accord Party and contested again, finishing third behind Governor Makinde and APC candidate, Teslim Folarin.
With his resignation now confirmed, attention is expected to shift to the unfolding political alignments and strategies ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.
