The federal cabinet saw its first major departure of the 2026 election season today as Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, tendered his resignation to focus on his long-standing gubernatorial dreams in Oyo State.
Adelabu’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed that the letter was delivered to President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday. For Adelabu, this is a return to a journey that began in 2016; he has remained vocal about his desire to govern the “Pacesetter State” since his days at the apex bank.
A Reformer’s Scorecard
During his time at the helm of the Power Ministry, Adelabu oversaw:
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The implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which broke the federal monopoly on power.
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An increase in market revenues from N1 trillion in 2023 to N2.3 trillion by 2025.
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The expansion of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) to stabilize the national grid.
The “Super Minister” Proposal
Perhaps his most provocative parting gift is the suggestion that Nigeria needs a centralized authority—a Coordinating Minister for Energy. Adelabu argued that until power, gas, and environment policies are under one strategic umbrella, the sector will continue to struggle with gas supply constraints and infrastructure gaps.
While Adelabu heads to the campaign trail in Ibadan, the President now faces the task of finding a successor to manage a sector that, while improved, still battles with vandalism and the sensitive issue of cost-reflective tariffs.
