By Ayomide Otitoju
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from office to focus on his ambition to contest the governorship of Oyo State.
His resignation, contained in a letter dated April 22, 2026 and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, takes effect from April 30, 2026. The letter was submitted through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, with Adelabu stating that the move was to ensure a smooth transition in the 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 facilitate an orderly handover of responsibilities.
He thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege, and highlighted his role in ongoing reforms in the power sector, which he said remains central to Nigeria’s industrial and economic 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,” he wrote.
Adelabu explained that his resignation was driven by his decision to fully pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State, an aspiration he traced back to 2016 during his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He also recalled resigning from the Central Bank in 2018 to pursue the same political goal, and cited provisions of the amended electoral law which restrict political office holders from contesting elections while in office.
“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.
