REVEALED: How Power Minister, Adelabu resigned against Tinubu’s approval

The Minister for Power, Adebayo Adelabu, quit the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu contrary to the wish of the President who dissuaded him from resigning, Saturday PUNCH investigations have revealed.

According to sources who were privy to the discussion leading to the ministerial exit, Adelabu held his ground that he would like to leave the cabinet to pursue his governorship aspiration in Oyo State.

Adelabu informed Tinubu of his decision to resign from the cabinet in a letter dated April 22, 2026, Wednesday, and sent to the President.

The spokesman for the SGF’s office confirmed the development without giving any additional information.

“Anything outside that, I am not able to say more because you know my stand,” he said.

This development comes after the directive by Tinubu on all political appointees under his administration who will seek elective positions in the forthcoming 2027 elections to resign their positions on or before March 31, 2026.

This directive, which was announced on March 17 via a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, conforms to Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the schedule put forward by the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding party primaries in preparation for the 2027 election cycle.

As four ministers, namely Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs) and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Labour and Productivity), among others, had resigned in accordance with the March 31 deadline, Adelabu’s resignation was done after 22 days from the initial deadline.

The 2023 Accord Party gubernatorial aspirant from Oyo State explained that he resigned to fulfill his aspirations, stating that his resignation is effective as of April 30, 2026, to ensure a seamless transition.

Whereas some citizens have argued that the minister had been instructed to resign by the President, it is reported that he voluntarily resigned to pursue his dream of becoming a governor.

The sources close to the Presidency and from within the aides of Adelabu revealed to our reporters that Tinubu was considering taking the Oyo APC chieftain in as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy after the resignation of Wale Edun.

“The fact is that he resigned. He didn’t get sacked; rather he resigned. Actually, he is someone the president didn’t want him to resign because he came on Tuesday at the Villa and met with the president. For the last two months, the president did not meet with him so he won’t be given a chance to discuss his resignation,” revealed a source in the Presidency.

The sources reveal that the President sent envoys to dissuade Adelabu from quitting.

“President sent people to convince him not to resign. But during their meeting in Villa on Tuesday, Tinubu queried Adelabu about the probability of his winning the ticket and becoming the governor.

“‘Are you sure you can get the ticket?’ asked the President, who received immediate response from Adelabu thus: ‘Yes, sir. I can win the ticket. I will win’. To this, the President assured him, ‘Best of luck’. Adelabu is an optimist. ‘He left by himself,’ the source stated.”

A different source informed our reporter that whenever people criticized the poor performances by the minister for causing collapse of electricity grid system with accompanying increase in electricity tariffs, President insisted that Adelabu has been performing very well in his job.

“President never wanted him to leave. Even amidst criticisms that he wasn’t performing, the President always defended him saying he is good in what he is doing because power sector problems cannot be blamed only on one person like the minister,” stated the source.

“Actually, there are different aspects which require sorting out before tangible results could be seen. However, the President feels happy about some of these being sorted out,” the source explained.

Meanwhile, the third source revealed that March 31 deadline was an administrative, not a legislative one, and therefore, Adelabu had resigned well within the required time frame as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2026.

As the official explained, “The directive from the SGF is an administrative circular. It is not backed by legislation. According to the act, the individual concerned should submit his resignation 30 days prior to the holding of the primaries. This is the law. He has submitted his early enough because he is running for governorship.”

Likewise, an aide of the minister, who was speaking anonymously on behalf of the minister on Friday with Saturday Punch, confirmed that Adelabu had a project to fulfill before his resignation.

“Some expected him not to resign, but he resigned. The minister has no disdain for the President. If an overseer tells everyone to go to one place but then whispers to one of the team members: ‘You should do the special assignment before you go here’, would that person go there?

“Adelabu is the son of the President, and he enjoys his backing. He was going to be appointed Minister of Finance, but for his voluntary resignation. Anyone criticizing the minister for not having resigned in March like the President asked him to resign does not know how the President and the minister relate.

“The minister went to meet with the President to report back about his stewardship, and the President approved what he was doing. Indeed, the President wouldn’t have wanted him to go because if left to him, he would have kept him in that post but advised the minister he won’t prevent him from seeking gubernatorial office.”

Awogboro, a spokesman for Adelabu, also confirmed that Adelabu got Tinubu’s blessings before his resignation.

He emphasized that it was not the first time Adelabu would voluntarily resign from a prominent position out of conviction.

“Other than his already expressed aspiration, it should be noted that Adebayo Adelabu had previously chosen to step down from the post of Deputy Governor (Operations) at the Central Bank of Nigeria due to his desire to serve back to society. As you can see, stepping down from one’s position, if necessary, is something that has never bothered him.

“He does not venture into anything without first getting God’s approval as well as permission from his father, who is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The decent citizens of Oyo State have continuously demanded that he serves as their governor in view of his impressive track record as well as his passionate inclination to help rural development and emancipation of local governments.

“The overwhelming response received on Thursday, April 23, when he touched down in Alakia, Ibadan Airport is an example in this regard. People thronged in large numbers as Ibadan city literally buzzed with displays of genuine affection towards him. Truly, it is evident that he is loved in all the 33 local government areas of Oyo State,” Awogboro declared.”

As a grandson to the late Adegoke Adelabu, who is known for his politics and nicknamed “Penkelemesi”, Adelabu attempted another candidacy on the APC party platform but was unsuccessful against Makinde.

He tried again in 2023 but was unsuccessful against the same candidate.

However, on the 1st of October, 2025, he declared his intention to run for office in the upcoming election in 2027.

“I have been at this journey for a while now but God showed this year 2027 as my year. It is the year of Adelabu,” he said.

But the APC in the South-West is said to be rallying behind a former Secretary to the State Government of Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, as a consensus candidate after a stakeholders meeting held on March 30 in Lagos.

President Tinubu was said to have supported Alli and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat in Lagos and Senator Olamilekan Adeola in Ogun.

(Punch)