ABUJA, Nigeria — Reports claiming that Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from his position have been dismissed by his media aide, who described the circulating letter as unauthorised.
Okay News reports that a letter widely shared on Tuesday alleged that Adelabu had stepped down from the Federal Executive Council to pursue the Oyo State governorship race in 2027.
However, speaking on Tuesday evening, Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media to the minister, firmly denied the claim.
“He has not resigned. That letter of resignation did not come from his office,” Tunji said.
When asked whether Adelabu would eventually resign to contest the governorship election, the spokesperson declined to give a definitive answer, stating that developments would unfold in due course.
“When the time comes, everything will be revealed,” he added.
The denial comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections. In June 2025, Adelabu had met with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, where he declared his intention to contest the governorship seat.
Earlier in March, Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed political appointees interested in elective positions in 2027 to resign on or before March 31, a move that has triggered speculation around several cabinet members.
Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor (Operations) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has a history of governorship bids in Oyo State. He emerged as the APC candidate in 2019 but lost to incumbent governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party.
In 2022, after losing the APC primary to former senator Teslim Folarin, Adelabu defected to the Accord Party and contested the 2023 governorship election on its platform, but was again defeated by Makinde.
He later returned to the APC and was appointed Minister of Power by President Tinubu in 2023.
