Adebayo Adelabu has resigned as Nigeria's Minister of Power, submitting his resignation letter dated March 26, 2026, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. In the letter, Adelabu stated his intention to pursue a gubernatorial bid in Oyo State under the All Progressives Congress. "I write with profound gratitude to Your Excellency to formally tender my resignation from my position as the Honourable Minister of Power, Federal Republic of Nigeria," the letter read. "My decision to resign is to enable me fully pursue my aspiration to contest for the office of Governor of Oyo State and to dedicate my time and resources to that endeavour."
Adelabu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, cited the need to focus on his political ambition as the reason for stepping down. His resignation follows President Tinubu's directive that political appointees with interest in the 2027 elections must resign by March 31, 2026. The move comes amid worsening power supply across Nigeria, with frequent blackouts affecting homes, businesses and industries. Adelabu had previously apologised for the power crisis, attributing part of the problem to gas shortages during the dry season. He had pledged that government efforts would achieve 6,000MW generation capacity by the end of 2026.
Adebayo Adelabu's exit as Power Minister reveals how political ambition shapes cabinet stability — his resignation, timed just before the deadline, underscores that ministerial roles are increasingly seen as springboards, not service posts. With Nigeria still averaging below 4,000MW, his promise of 6,000MW by end of 2026 now falls to an incoming minister to deliver. That the power sector remains in crisis after his tenure suggests technical fixes won't override structural issues, no matter the appointee's résumé.
