Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from his position, formally notifying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of his decision in a letter dated April 22, 2026.
The resignation, which was submitted through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, will take effect on April 30, 2026, allowing time for a smooth transition in the ministry.
In his letter, Adelabu expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege and an honour to contribute to reforms in Nigeria’s power sector. He noted that his decision to step down was driven by his renewed ambition to contest the governorship of Oyo State.
According to him, the governorship aspiration is not new, tracing back to 2016 during his time as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He recalled resigning from the apex bank in 2018 to pursue the same political goal.
His exit follows weeks of speculation about his future in the cabinet. Earlier reports had suggested he would step down in line with a directive requiring ministers with political ambitions to resign. While initial claims of his resignation were denied, confirmation came after a recent meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa, where he presented a summary of his stewardship.
Adelabu was appointed Minister of Power by President Tinubu to spearhead reforms in Nigeria’s electricity sector. However, the sector has continued to grapple with major challenges, including recurring national grid collapses and widespread outages.
In 2026 alone, the national grid experienced multiple disruptions within the first month, continuing a pattern seen in previous years. Reports indicate several collapses in 2025, while 2024 recorded at least a dozen incidents, highlighting ongoing instability in the country’s power infrastructure.
With his resignation now confirmed, attention is expected to shift to his political campaign in Oyo State as the race for the governorship gathers momentum.
