Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has formally resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, stepping down after nearly three years at the helm of the nation’s troubled electricity sector to pursue his long-held ambition of becoming governor of Oyo State in the 2027 elections.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, addressed to President Tinubu and routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Adelabu announced that his exit will take effect on April 30, 2026, to allow for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities. His resignation comes after he secured the President’s blessing to contest the Oyo State governorship ticket under the All Progressives Congress (APC). The decision aligns with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which precludes serving political office holders from contesting elections.
Adelabu, a chartered accountant and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), traced his gubernatorial aspiration back to 2016, noting that the ambition had led him to voluntarily resign from the CBN in 2018. His resignation from the federal cabinet was confirmed by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, who said the minister expressed deep appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege to contribute to national development.
In his three-page resignation letter, Adelabu provided a detailed account of his stewardship of the power sector. He noted that when he assumed office in August 2023, available generation capacity stood at between 3,500 and 4,500 megawatts against an installed capacity of over 13,000 megawatts. He credited the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the electricity market and improved the investment climate, for pushing peak generation above 6,000 megawatts. The increase was driven largely by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of several thermal power plants.
Transmission capacity was also strengthened through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative, while the distribution segment recorded gains in revenue collection and regulatory oversight. Efforts to reduce Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses and close the metering gap were advanced through initiatives such as the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-backed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. On the financial front, Adelabu stated that tariff reforms and a ₦4 trillion debt restructuring programme increased market revenues from ₦1 trillion in 2023 to ₦2.3 trillion in 2025, helping to restore investor confidence.
Despite these achievements, the outgoing minister acknowledged persistent challenges, including gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism, and the need for full commercialisation of the electricity value chain. He proposed a series of key measures to sustain progress, including the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, accelerated nationwide metering, sustained transmission investments, and strengthened regulatory enforcement.
Central to his exit recommendations is the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to provide strategic oversight and ensure synergy across the power, gas, water resources, and environmental sectors. He argued that stronger central coordination is critical to improving gas supply for thermal generation, optimising hydroelectric resources, and accelerating renewable energy deployment.
The timing of Adelabu’s resignation has been a subject of intense speculation in recent weeks. President Tinubu had earlier directed all political appointees seeking elective offices in the 2027 general elections to resign on or before March 31, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. However, Adelabu remained in office beyond the deadline, prompting questions about his political future. In his resignation letter, he explained that the delay was driven by the need to stabilise the power sector and ensure continuity in ongoing reforms before stepping down. This included efforts to address recent declines in power generation due to gas supply constraints, ongoing pipeline repairs, and outstanding obligations to gas suppliers.
Before his resignation, Adelabu reportedly met with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he formally briefed the President on his governorship ambition and presented a comprehensive stewardship report. During the meeting, he outlined key milestones recorded under his leadership and secured the President’s consent and blessing to pursue the Oyo State governorship race. President Tinubu commended the minister for his dedication and the progress recorded, particularly in laying a strong policy foundation for the transformation of the power sector.
Adelabu’s resignation marks the third high-profile exit from the Federal Executive Council within 48 hours, following the departure of former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and former Minister of Housing, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa. The Presidency has clarified that Edun and Dangiwa were not sacked but resigned voluntarily as part of a minor cabinet reshuffle aimed at strengthening governance synergy and achieving more impactful delivery on the President’s economic agenda.
The outgoing minister has pledged to ensure a smooth and seamless handover process before his final departure on April 30. His resignation is expected to reshape the political landscape in Oyo State, where he is widely expected to vie for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections. Adelabu contested the Oyo State governorship election in 2019 under the APC and in 2023 on the platform of the Accord Party, losing on both occasions to the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In his farewell statement, Adelabu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the confidence and support extended to him throughout his tenure. “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he wrote. “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.”
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