*His Dismal Track Record
*’Is Governorship A Reward For Obvious Failure Elsewhere?’
By our reporter
Seeking to actualize his governorship aspiration in Oyo State, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned his position.
President Bola Tinubu is said to have accepted the resignation.
In a resignation letter dated 22 April, 2026, addressed to the President, Adelabu said the decision would take effect from 30 April, 2026, to make for a smooth transition to his yet-to-be-named successor.
Adelabu’s tenure has been marked by repeated nationwide blackouts, serial grid collapses, low supply and other deleterious issues which he failed to resolve, and which have negatively affected both the economy and individual Nigerian homes.
For instance, as of this month, according to Wikipedia, Nigeria’s power supply remained critical, characterized by frequent grid collapses with around 86 million people lacking access to power.
Average daily power supply has been low, with approximately 3,300–4,300 MW delivered, failing to meet the needs of over 200 million people.
According to Adelabu’s letter, he was quitting with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.
He wrote: “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu’s performance in office obviously does not make him a popular Minister among Nigerians, perhaps one that will not be missed.
Concerns have been raised over whether running for governor, though a constitutional right, is a reward for woeful performance in a different position, should the aspirant eventually win it.
The youthful, always well-dressed Adelabu oversaw a situation where despite installed capacity exceeding 13,000 MW, actual generation has been much lower due to unresolved issues, causing roughly 292 MW to drop from the grid recently.
It needs repeating that the national grid experienced multiple collapses in 2024 and 2025, a trend that has continued into 2026, leading to widespread blackouts.
The sad tale continued with Power Generating Companies (GenCos) reporting being owed over ₦1.6 trillion – an albatross, they said, that has been hampering their ability to pay gas suppliers and maintain equipment.
Adelabu’s tenure, however, saw to the passage of the 2023 Electricity Act, which empowers state governments to produce electricity for their people, even as, so far, only 15 states have begun to regulate their own electricity markets to improve local supply.
Only recently, as yet another frustrating pall of darkness descended on the country, Adelabu stated that the Federal Government was targeting phenomenal improvements in power delivery by 2027 (the election year), with special focus on expanding transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Whether the pronouncement is a mere pre-election gimmick, or achievable milestone, remains to be seen as Nigerians await Tinubu’s unfurling of Adelabu’s successor in office.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Adelabu.
