By Our Reporter
He was supposed to have resigned March 31, 2026 in compliance with the directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that all appointees interested in running for any political office in 2027 should do so in compliance with the Electoral Act.
But Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, did not take the bait. He reportedly disappointed many of his supporters, especially those of them hoping that he will join the race to occupy the Government House in Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Adelabu had about a year ago expressed interest in contesting the governorship of Oyo State on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
He was confident of succeeding Governor Seyi Makinde of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who serves out a second term in 2027.
Adelabu, grandson of First Republic politician, Chief Adegoke Adelabu, popularly known as PENKELEMES had made it clear that he would be the next Governor of Oyo State.
Keen political watchers had expected that the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would be the first to resign once the President asked appointees with ambition to quit the government, a reason why it was first speculated that the Minister had quit.
Apart from denying that he had resigned, the Minister, in a statement indicated that he was focusing on the job assigned to him by Mr. President.
The announcement came as a shock to many, given that he had contested for the governorship twice. He was the APC flag bearer and lost to Makinde in 2023.
Sources close to the Minister have, however, pointed to the epileptic power supply and near collapse of the electricity sector as key reasons for Adelabu pulling out of the gubernatorial contest.
One of those who spoke to Sunday Southerner on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Adelabu was more grateful that President Tinubu allowed him to stay on the job especially after recent power outages witnessed in most parts of the country.
“There’s no doubt the Minister is well known in Oyo State. His chances were very bright especially now that Makinde is leaving in 2027. But Adelabu knows that his image has been battered by persistent blackouts in the country. He was happier instead that Tinubu chose not to sack him”, confided one of the sources.
Similarly, another source wondered how the Minister could have expected the President to give him the nod to become Governor, when he did not strive to make Tinubu’s electoral promise a shot at realisation.
“President Tinubu promised to fix the power problem while campaigning in 2023. He promised Nigerians 24 hours of electricity. Instead, the sector has experienced the worst outages under Adelabu’s watch. The Minister did not make any effort to help the President. How could expect Tinubu to help him?” wondered the insider.
It will be recalled that the former CBN Deputy Governor was first to apologize publicly to Nigerians recently after persistent collapse of the national grid and nationwide blackout.
The national electricity grid has experienced significant instability under President Bola Tinubu, with reports indicating at least 22 to over 25 total collapses between May 2023 and early 2026. Over 12 collapses were recorded in 2024 alone, with additional failures occurring frequently in late 2025 and early 2026, causing nationwide blackouts.
It was a performance matrix that could have earned an early sack for any other political figure. “I think the fact his father was a prominent political figure is what is still keeping him in the cabinet. The fact that the President is battling with the huge task of securing re-election is what may have made him decide against disengaging him in order to solidify his base in that part of the south west”, a political analyst who preferred not to be named told Sunday Southerner.
The only innovation credited to Adelabu is the introduction of a discriminatory tariff structure with four bands. It was seen as a disingenuous strategy to institutionalise epileptic and inefficient power supply.
