The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from office to pursue his ambition of contesting the Oyo State governorship election.
His resignation, contained in a letter dated April 22, 2026 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, takes effect from April 30, 2026.
The letter was submitted through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and was framed as a formal exit to ensure a smooth transition in the Ministry of Power.
In the correspondence, Adelabu said he was leaving office with what he described as “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude,” noting that the decision was necessary to allow for an orderly handover of responsibilities.
He thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege and highlighting his contributions to ongoing reforms in the power sector.
“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,” he wrote.
Adelabu said his resignation was driven by his intention 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 recalled that he voluntarily resigned from the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2018 to pursue the same political goal.
He also referenced provisions of the amended electoral law, stating that public office holders are required to step down before contesting elections.
“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.
