Insiders Speak on How Ex-Minister of Power Resigned: "The President Didn't Want Him To Go"
- Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet despite efforts to dissuade him
- Presidency sources said Tinubu had attempted to stop the resignation and even considered Adelabu for a new role before he insisted on leaving
- Officials confirmed Adelabu stepped down to pursue the 2027 Oyo governorship race, with his resignation falling within the Electoral Act provisions
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet despite attempts by the President to persuade him to remain in office.
Multiple sources disclosed this development to newsmen.
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng reported that Adelabu formally submitted his resignation in a letter dated 22 April 2026, addressed to the President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
His exit is expected to take effect from 30 April to allow for a smooth handover.
A spokesperson for the SGF’s office confirmed receipt of the resignation but declined to provide further details, stating, “Anything apart from that, I am not in a position to answer.”
Tinubu attempted to stop resignation
Insiders familiar with developments leading up to the decision said President Tinubu made several efforts to discourage Adelabu from stepping down.
A senior Presidency official revealed that the minister had sought an audience with the President after months of limited access.
“The truth is that he (Adelabu) resigned. He wasn’t sacked. I can confirm that to you. In fact, the President didn’t want him to go. He came to the Villa on Tuesday, where he met with the President. The President had been avoiding him for the past two months so he wouldn’t get the opportunity to talk about resignation. That’s why he delayed,” the source said.
According to the official, Tinubu also deployed intermediaries to advise Adelabu against leaving his position.
“The President sent people to tell him not to resign. When the two men finally met at the Villa on Tuesday, Tinubu asked Adelabu a direct question about his chances of winning the primaries and the governorship.
“The President asked him an honest question: ‘Are you sure you can win the ticket?’ And he answered immediately, ‘Yes, sir, I can win. I will win.’ And the President told him, ‘Best of luck.’ He is an optimist. He left by himself,” the source added.
Resignation linked to governorship ambition
Sources indicated that Adelabu’s decision was driven by his intention to contest the Oyo State governorship election in 2027.
Although President Tinubu had directed all political appointees seeking elective office to resign on or before 31 March 2026, Adelabu’s resignation came 22 days after the deadline, Vanguard reported.
However, a Presidency source clarified that the deadline issued by the SGF was administrative, noting that the Electoral Act 2026 allows resignation closer to party primaries.
“What came from the SGF is an administrative circular. It doesn’t have the force of law behind it. The Electoral Act says you resign 30 days before the primaries. That is the law. And he is early and within the time range since he is running for governor,” the official explained.
Tinubu defended minister’s performance
Another insider disclosed that the President had consistently supported Adelabu’s performance, even amid criticism over recurring power grid failures and rising electricity tariffs, Punch reported.
“The President didn’t want him to go. Even when people said he was not performing, the President defended him, saying he was doing well because the problem with the power sector is not a one-man game or a minister’s issue alone.
“There are layers of things that need to be fixed before we can see real results. And the President is satisfied with him doing some of those things,” the official added.
Source: Twitter
Aide says resignation had president’s blessing
Adelabu’s media aide, Femi Awogboro, confirmed that the minister had the President’s support before stepping down.
“Beyond his long-standing ambition, it is worth recalling that Adebayo Adelabu once voluntarily resigned from the Central Bank of Nigeria, where he served as Deputy Governor (Operations), driven by his passion to give back to society. This demonstrates that resigning from any position, when necessary, has never been an issue for him,” Awogboro said.
“He does not embark on any journey without prior approval from Almighty God and his father and mentor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
Awogboro also pointed to public support for Adelabu’s ambition, citing his recent reception in Ibadan.
“This widespread support was clearly evident on Thursday, April 23, when he arrived at Alakia, Ibadan Airport. Ibadan was agog with a remarkable display of genuine love and enthusiasm from the people,” he said.
Political battle lines emerge in Oyo
Adelabu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and grandson of Ibadan political figure Adegoke Adelabu, has contested the Oyo governorship twice but lost on both occasions.
He recently reaffirmed his ambition, declaring, “I have been on this journey for a while now. But this 2027, God has shown that it’s my turn. It’s Adelabu time.”
However, political dynamics within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West suggest growing support for another aspirant, Sharafadeen Alli, who is reportedly being considered as a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Adelabu seen controling traffic
Legit.ng reported that Adebayo Adelabu, the immediate past minister of power, who recently resigned from the administration of President Bola Tinubu to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo state, has drawn attention after being seen controlling traffic in the state.
Adelabu resigned after he held a meeting with the president on Tuesday, April 21, at the presidential villa in Abuja. The former minister reportedly presented a comprehensive briefing on his administration in the power sector over the last two and a half years.
Source: Legit.ng
