By Stanley Onyekwere and Yunusa Abubakar
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has officially tendered his resignation from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), signaling a definitive move toward the 2027 Oyo State governorship race.
This is as the Presidency on Wednesday clarified the circumstances surrounding the exit of the former Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and his Housing and Urban Development counterpart, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Akume had on Tuesday announced that the duo had left the Federal Executive Council(FEC), but did not clarify that it was a voluntary act.
Accordingly, media reports had suggested that the two ministers were booted out by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Wednesday, however, the presidency said the Edun and Dangiwa “resigned; they were not sacked.”
In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and dated April 22, 2026, Adelabu expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve, citing the need to comply with the Amended Electoral Act 2026 as the primary reason for his timely exit.
His resignation is set to take effect on April 30, 2026.
The Minister noted that his gubernatorial aspirations are not new, tracing back to 2016 during his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This is the second time he has resigned from a high-profile federal position to seek the Oyo State executive seat, having previously left the CBN in 2018 for the same purpose.
The outgoing Minister emphasized that the one-week notice period is designed to ensure a “smooth and orderly handover” within the Ministry of Power.
During his tenure, the Ministry saw significant—though often debated—reforms aimed at stabilizing the national grid and enhancing industrial growth.
Political analysts suggest that this early resignation is a strategic move to satisfy the stringent requirements of the newly amended Electoral Act, which mandates that all political appointees seeking elective office must vacate their posts well ahead of party primaries.
With this move, the race for the Agodi Government House in Ibadan is expected to heat up, as the Minister returns to his home state to consolidate his political machinery ahead of the 2027 polls.
Peoples Daily recalled that before the resignation of the Power Minister was made public on Wednesday, the media was awash with report of his exit.
