Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned to pursue the governorship of Oyo State.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dated April 22, 2026, Adelabu announced his resignation would take effect on April 30, 2026.
The move aligns with the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which prohibits sitting political office holders from contesting elections.
Adelabu noted that his gubernatorial ambitions date back to his tenure as deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2016.
To safeguard recent progress in the energy sector, Adelabu advocated for a central authority to harmonise policy and execution across the power, gas, water, and environmental sectors.
He argued that a coordinating minister is vital to resolving gas supply constraints, optimising hydroelectric resources, and accelerating renewable energy deployment.
The letter highlighted some of the significant milestones recorded in the sector during his tenure.
According to him, under his leadership, peak power generation rose to over 6,000 megawatts through the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and thermal plant rehabilitations.
He also introduced tariff reforms and a N4 trillion debt restructuring programme, which boosted market revenues from ₦1 trillion in 2023 to ₦2.3 trillion in 2025.
Adelabu’s administration also implemented the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the electricity market and strengthened grid capacity via the Presidential Power Initiative.
Despite these gains, he warned that persistent challenges, including infrastructure vandalism and gas supply shortages, require sustained investment in metering and distribution company recapitalisation.
Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, confirmed the development.
Tunji stated that Adelabu is committed to a seamless handover process and expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to contribute to national development.
