Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu Denies Resignation Rumours Amid Oyo Governorship Ambition

Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu Denies Resignation Rumours Amid Oyo Governorship Ambition Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has denied reports that he resigned his cabinet position to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State, even as political activity heats up ahead of the next general election cycle. Contrary to widely circulated online reports and a purported resignation letter attributed to him, Adelabu remains in office and continues to perform his duties at the Federal Ministry of Power, his special adviser on strategic communications and media, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed on Tuesday. On March 31, 2026, some online outlets and social media accounts claimed that Adelabu had tendered his resignation to pursue his political ambition of becoming governor of Oyo State in the 2027 elections. The reports suggested that he had acted to comply with a directive issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requiring political appointees with elective ambitions to resign their appointments by that date. In response, Tunji described the circulated resignation letter as “fake and misleading”, urging journalists and members of the public to verify sources before spreading unverified information. He also reaffirmed that Adelabu remains “committed to his present assignment” as Power Minister and would act at the appropriate time should he decide to pursue elective office.

Multiple fact‑checking outlets have also debunked the claim that Adelabu resigned, emphasizing that the reports circulating on social media were inaccurate. Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria and a two‑time Oyo governorship candidate (2019 and 2023), has openly expressed interest in returning to Oyo State politics. President Tinubu’s directive, issued in March 2026 and anchored in Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, requires political appointees including ministers, special advisers and agency heads who intend to contest elective offices in the 2027 general elections to resign their government roles before participating in party primaries. While some other ministers have complied with the directive such as the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who formally resigned to pursue governorship ambitions elsewhere Adelabu is not among them, according to official clarifications. The denials come against a backdrop of increased political realignment and consultation within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as stakeholders position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. Political analysts say Adelabu’s ambition remains a subject of interest among party strategists in Oyo State, given his profile as a technocrat and previous electoral bids. On the power sector front, Adelabu continues in his ministerial role as Nigeria grapples with ongoing challenges in electricity generation and distribution. His ministry remains under pressure to deliver improvements in the sector as part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. For now, Adelabu’s political future including whether he will resign to pursue an elective position at a later date remains undecided. Nigerian electoral timelines require aspirants to align their political moves with party primaries scheduled between April and May 2026, with the governorship nomination deadline slated later in the year.