Fresh details have emerged on Adebayo Adelabu’s decision to resign as Nigeria’s Minister of Power to contest the Oyo State governorship election in 2027.
People familiar with the situation told Punch that President Bola Tinubu was not in support of his immediate exit from the cabinet and had tried to convince him to stay.
Despite this, Adelabu insisted on leaving so he could fully focus on his political ambition in Oyo State.
Before he resigned, he had a meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
According to reports, the President questioned him about his chances in the governorship race, and Adelabu expressed confidence that he would secure the ticket and win the election.
After the meeting, he proceeded with his decision to leave office.
According to Punch , Tinubu had wanted to consider Adelabu as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, following Wale Edun’s resignation.
“The truth is that he (Adelabu) resigned. He wasn’t sacked. I can confirm that to you. In fact, the President didn’t want him to go. He came to the Villa on Tuesday, where he met with the President. The President had been avoiding him for the past two months so he wouldn’t get the opportunity to talk about resignation. That’s why he delayed,” a top government official in the Presidency said.
Insiders also said the President had at different times sent messages through intermediaries urging him not to resign, as he was still valued in the cabinet due to his role in the power sector.
The President was also said to have defended his performance despite public outrage about electricity challenges.
The official said, “The President didn’t want him to go. Even when people said he was not performing, the President defended him, saying he was doing well because the problem with the power sector is not a one-man game or a minister’s issue alone.
“There are layers of things that need to be fixed before we can see real results. And the President is satisfied with him doing some of those things,” the source added.
