The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from his position to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State, bringing clarity to earlier speculation over his political intentions.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adelabu stated that his exit will take effect from April 30, 2026, allowing him to focus fully on his gubernatorial campaign. His decision follows the provisions of the amended Electoral Act 2026, which requires political appointees seeking elective office to step down.

Confirming the development, his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, said Adelabu expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege to contribute to national development.

Adelabu also used the opportunity to propose the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to oversee and harmonise reforms across Nigeria’s power, gas, and related sectors. He noted that stronger coordination at the highest level is necessary to sustain progress and drive integrated development within the energy space.

Reflecting on his time in office, the outgoing minister highlighted key achievements, including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the power sector and improved the investment climate. He noted that peak electricity generation rose to over 6,000 megawatts, supported by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of thermal power stations.

He further stated that transmission capacity was enhanced through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative, while improvements were also recorded in the distribution segment through better regulatory oversight, increased revenue collection, and reductions in Aggregate Technical, Commercial, and Collection (ATC&C) losses.

Efforts to close the metering gap, he added, were accelerated through the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.

On the financial side, Adelabu disclosed that tariff adjustments and a N4 trillion debt restructuring programme boosted market revenue from N1 trillion in 2023 to N2.3 trillion in 2025, helping to restore investor confidence and improve sector sustainability.

Despite these gains, he acknowledged ongoing challenges, including gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism, and the need for full commercialisation of the electricity value chain.

To address these issues, he recommended the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, expansion of metering nationwide, sustained investment in transmission infrastructure, and stronger regulatory enforcement.

He stressed that the proposed Coordinating Minister for Energy would provide strategic oversight across interconnected sectors such as power, gas, water resources, and the environment, improving efficiency and accelerating renewable energy development.

Adelabu assured that he would ensure a smooth transition process, while reiterating his gratitude to the President for the confidence reposed in him during his time in office.