Adebayo Adelabu Quits as Power Minister to Pursue Political Ambition in Oyo

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has officially resigned from his position in President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council to pursue his ambition of becoming the next governor of Oyo State.

His resignation makes him the third minister to exit the cabinet within a 48-hour period, amid growing political realignments within the administration.

The development also comes as the Presidency dismissed circulating reports suggesting that the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and former Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, had been removed from office.

According to his resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Tinubu through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Adelabu stated that his exit would take effect from April 30, 2026, to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of duties within the Ministry of Power.

In his letter, Adelabu expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve in the cabinet, describing his appointment as a privilege and honour.

“I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he wrote.

He further noted that his time in office allowed him to contribute to national development and participate in ongoing reforms within the power sector, which he described as a critical pillar for Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.

“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,” the letter added.

Adelabu, a chartered accountant and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, also revealed that his ambition to govern Oyo State predates his ministerial appointment. He traced the aspiration back to 2016 during his tenure at the CBN, noting that it first led him to voluntarily resign from the apex bank in 2018 to pursue political interests.

His resignation now sets the stage for a renewed political contest in Oyo State as preparations gradually build toward the next governorship cycle.