Adelabu Resigns To Pursue Oyo Governorship, Proposes Power Tremendous Minister As Presidency Clarifies Cupboard Exits
The Minister of Energy, Chief Adebayo Adelabu on Wednesday formally tendered his resignation to President Bola Tinubu and proposed the institution of a Coordinating Minister for Power to drive built-in reforms throughout Nigeria’s energy, gasoline, and associated sectors.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the Nigerian chief, Adelabu said that his resignation will take impact on April 30, 2026, to allow him to concentrate on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
He, nevertheless, emphasised that sustaining and consolidating the good points recorded within the energy sector requires stronger coordination on the highest degree, together with the appointment of a government to harmonise coverage course and execution.
In a press release in Abuja, the Particular Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, stated the minister expressed deep appreciation to the President for the chance to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege to contribute to nationwide improvement.
Adelabu famous that his determination aligned with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which precludes serving political workplace holders from contesting elections. He additional disclosed that his gubernatorial aspiration dates again to 2016 throughout his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central {Bank} of Nigeria (CBN).
In his three-page letter, the minister outlined key achievements recorded throughout his tenure, together with the implementation of the Electrical energy Act 2023, which decentralised the electrical energy market and improved the funding local weather.
He highlighted that peak energy technology rose to over 6,000 megawatts, pushed by the combination of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of thermal energy vegetation. Transmission capability was additionally strengthened via grid upgrades underneath the Presidential Energy Initiative.
He additional cited notable enhancements within the distribution section, together with enhanced regulatory oversight, improved income assortment, and progress in lowering Mixture Technical, Industrial and Assortment (ATC&C) losses. Efforts to shut the metering hole, he added, gained momentum via the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) and the World {Bank}-supported Distribution Sector Restoration Programme (DISREP).
On the {financial} entrance, Adelabu said that tariff reforms and a N4 trillion debt restructuring programme elevated market revenues from N1 trillion in 2023 to N2.3 trillion in 2025, restoring investor confidence and inserting the sector on a path to sustainability.
Regardless of these good points, the minister acknowledged persistent challenges, together with gasoline provide constraints, infrastructure vandalism, and the necessity for full commercialisation of the electrical energy worth chain.
He subsequently proposed key measures to maintain progress, together with the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs with focused subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution corporations, accelerated nationwide metering, sustained transmission investments, and strengthened regulatory enforcement.
Adelabu really helpful the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Power to supply strategic oversight and guarantee synergy throughout energy, gasoline, water sources, and environmental sectors.
In keeping with him, this method is vital to enhancing gasoline provide for thermal technology, optimising hydroelectric sources, and accelerating renewable power deployment.
Adelabu said that he stays dedicated to making sure a easy and seamless handover course of, whereas expressing gratitude to the President for the arrogance and assist prolonged to him all through his tenure.
A part of his resignation letter seen by THISDAY learn: “My determination to step down is knowledgeable by my intention to focus totally on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates again to 2016 throughout my service as Deputy Governor of the Central {Bank} of Nigeria, in the end led to my voluntary resignation from the Central {Bank} in 2018 so as to pursue the identical aim.
“ In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which precludes political workplace holders from contesting elections, I think about it each acceptable and essential to resign right now.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Adelabu had indicated his intention to resign from the Federal Government Council (FEC) within the coming days after securing the approval of Tinubu to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.
The event adopted a gathering between Adelabu and the president on the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, the place he additionally formally briefed him on his political ambition and introduced a report on his stewardship within the energy sector.
In keeping with a press release on Wednesday in Abuja issued by the minister’s Particular Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, Tinubu granted Adelabu his consent and blessing to pursue the Oyo governorship race.
It additional disclosed that the minister defined the delay in exiting workplace, saying it was essential to make sure stability within the energy sector and maintain ongoing reforms earlier than stepping down.
“In view of this improvement, Chief Adebayo Adelabu is anticipated to resign his place as minister of energy within the coming days. The timing of his anticipated resignation displays his dedication to addressing key sectoral challenges and guaranteeing continuity in ongoing reforms previous to exiting workplace.
“Notably, this contains efforts to stabilise the sector following current declines in energy technology on account of gasoline provide constraints to energy vegetation, ongoing pipeline repairs, and excellent obligations to gasoline suppliers, in addition to the necessity to safe the president’s approval for his supposed resignation and gubernatorial aspiration in Oyo State,” the assertion stated.
In the meantime, the Presidency on Wednesday clarified that former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Financial system, Mr. Wale Edun and his Housing and City Growth counterpart, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, weren’t sacked from the cupboard of Tinubu. Somewhat, it stated the duo voluntarily resigned from workplace.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, in a press release, defined that Edun duly tendered his resignation from workplace, citing well being causes, earlier than Tinubu introduced his substitute on Tuesday.
He added that Dangiwa had additionally resigned and thanked the President for the chance to serve on the Federal Government Council (FEC).
In keeping with the assertion: “Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled current unwell well being, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the chance to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda”, his letter learn. “Beneath your management, Nigeria has emerged stronger, extra resilient and extra internationally revered. I want you and the administration each success sooner or later,” the ex-minister had written.
On Tuesday, earlier than the Workplace of the Secretary of the Authorities of the Federation introduced his departure from the Cupboard, Edun was stated to have paid a valedictory go to to the President on the Villa.
He held an hour-long dialogue with the president after which left to concentrate on his non-public companies.
In keeping with the assertion, Tinubu had expressed appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for his or her devoted service and important contributions to the administration’s {economic} reform programme and wished them continued success of their future endeavours.
In the identical vein, the President urged the brand new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and {economic} aims with renewed focus, self-discipline, and innovation.
Tinubu will shortly ship the ministerial nominee for housing, MuttaqhaDarma, additionally from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for affirmation.
Dangiwa, an architect, beforehand served because the managing director of the Federal Mortgage {Bank} of Nigeria (FMBN) between 2015 and 2022, in addition to Secretary to the Katsina State Authorities, earlier than Tinubu appointed him as Housing Minister in August 2023.
Edun, an economist and funding banker, served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance between 1999 and 2004, in the course of the tenure of then Governor Bola Tinubu.
Earlier than then, he labored from 1980 to 1986 at Chase Service provider {Bank} (later Continental) in Lagos. He joined the World {Bank} in September 1986 via the elite Younger Professionals programme, the place he labored on {economic} and {financial} packages for a number of nations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In 1989, he co-founded Funding Banking & Belief Firm Restricted (now Stanbic IBTC) and served as government director.
In 1994, he based Denham Administration Restricted, which has since change into the Chapelhill Denham Group. He served as chairman from 2008 to 2021.
Times Nigeria