The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from his position in the Federal Executive Council to pursue his ambition of becoming governor of Oyo State in 2027.
Adelabu’s resignation was confirmed on Wednesday following a meeting in Abuja with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, where he formally communicated his decision and plans for a smooth transition in the power sector.
In a letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Adelabu said his exit would take effect on April 30, 2026, in compliance with the amended Electoral Act, which requires political appointees seeking elective office to step down.
His Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed the development, noting that the minister expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve in the cabinet.
During his tenure, Adelabu pointed to reforms in the electricity sector as part of his achievements, including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the power sector and attracted new investments.
He also said electricity generation rose above 6,000 megawatts, supported by improved hydro integration, rehabilitation of thermal plants, and upgrades in transmission infrastructure.
On distribution, he highlighted tighter regulatory oversight, improved revenue collection, and expansion of the national metering programme aimed at reducing technical and commercial losses.
Adelabu further noted that tariff reforms and a ₦4 trillion sector debt restructuring helped increase market revenues from about ₦1 trillion in 2023 to ₦2.3 trillion in 2025, describing it as a boost to investor confidence.
However, he acknowledged lingering challenges in the sector, including gas supply constraints, vandalism of infrastructure, and the need for full commercialisation of the electricity value chain.
He recommended continued reforms such as cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, accelerated metering rollout, and improved transmission capacity.
Adelabu also proposed the establishment of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to harmonise policies across key sectors including power, gas, water resources, and the environment.
The minister is expected to oversee a formal handover process in the coming days as preparations begin for his political transition.
He is now expected to join the growing list of aspirants positioning for the 2027 governorship race in Oyo State.
