KEY POINTS
- Adebayo Adelabu has resigned as Nigeria’s power minister effective April 30, 2026.
- Adelabu is stepping down to focus on his 2027 Oyo State governorship election bid.
- Nigeria’s power supply remained poor during Adelabu’s tenure, with generation fluctuating between 3,900MW and 5,500MW.
Adebayo Adelabu has resigned as Nigeria’s Minister of Power. His resignation takes effect on April 30 and clears the way for him to pursue a governorship run in Oyo State in 2027.
Adelabu submitted his letter on Wednesday, dated April 22, addressed to President Bola Tinubu. The correspondence was transmitted through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The six-day runway to his exit is designed to allow for a handover inside the ministry.
In the letter, Adelabu thanked Tinubu for the appointment and described his service as a rare honor. He acknowledged his role in advancing reforms in the power sector and framed the position as a contribution to national development.
Why he is leaving now
Adelabu’s resignation comes almost a month after Tinubu’s March 31 deadline for political appointees seeking 2027 election bids. Several ministers, including former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, had already stepped down in compliance. Adelabu allowed the deadline to pass before formally submitting his letter.
He cited two reasons for leaving. The first is his long-standing interest in governing Oyo State, which predates this ministerial term. The second is the amended Electoral Act, which prevents serving political office holders from contesting elections.
“My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State,” Adelabu wrote. He added that the aspiration dated back to 2016, when he served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
A mixed record on power
Adelabu leaves the ministry with Nigeria’s power supply still under strain. Generation has fluctuated between 3,900MW and 5,500MW depending on gas supply and grid conditions. In 2026, average output has largely hovered between 4,300MW and 4,900MW, far below the demand of Africa’s most populous country.
Transmission constraints and weak distribution infrastructure continue to cut into whatever generation gains the sector has made. Grid collapses remain frequent, and outages have worsened during peak periods. In March, Adelabu publicly apologized to Nigerians for crippling outages that hit homes, schools and businesses.
Adelabu first contested the Oyo governorship in 2019 on the APC platform, losing to Governor Seyi Makinde. He ran again in 2023 under the Accord Party and lost again. He rejoined the APC after the 2023 elections and was appointed power minister by Tinubu in August of that year. His third run will depend on the outcome of the APC primary process in Oyo.
