NIGERIA’S Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has yet to step down from his position following a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mandating all political appointees seeking elective office to resign by March 31.
The directive, announced by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), ordered all affected political appointees, including ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior aides, and heads of federal agencies, to step down if they intend to participate in party primaries or contest elective positions in the 2027 general elections.
According to the government, the directive aligns with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which outlines party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, ahead of the 2027 polls.
The statement, signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, Dewan Goshit, stressed that the order was issued to ensure full compliance with electoral laws, promote transparency in governance, and guarantee a level playing field for all aspirants.
It further directed affected officials to submit their resignation letters through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before the deadline.
Following the expiration of the deadline, at least three ministers and several other political appointees have resigned from their positions to pursue various elective offices.
The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, was among the first to step down after meeting Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. He is expected to contest the governorship of Gombe State in 2027.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, also resigned his position to pursue the Bauchi State governorship race.
Tuggar, a former diplomat and ex-member of the House of Representatives, is reportedly positioning for a return to state politics after serving in Tinubu’s cabinet since 2023.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, resigned his appointment and is said to be preparing to contest a senatorial seat in Kebbi State.
Other political appointees have also exited federal boards and agencies in compliance with the directive, including Nasiru Gawuna, who resigned from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and reportedly joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as well as Abdulrazak Namdas of the Niger Delta Development Commission board, and presidential aide Nasir Ja’oji, who stepped down to pursue a seat in the House of Representatives.
However, Adelabu is yet to publicly announce his resignation, even as he is widely believed to be preparing to contest the Oyo State governorship election in 2027.
In a viral video in October 2025, Adelabu declared his ambition as he recalled his previous defeats to Governor Seyi Makinde in 2019 and 2023
“I have now paid my dues. I contested against Seyi (Makinde) in 2019. In 2023, I also contested against Seyi, then as the sitting governor. But in 2027, God has shown that it’s our turn. It’s Adelabu’s turn. Anything that belongs to Adelabu belongs to us all,” he had said.
In the video, he expressed confidence that the next election would be different.
This means that with this development, Adelabu and other members of the president’s cabinet interested in elective offices in 2027 might have shelved their ambitions.
Persistently poor power supply under Adelabu
Adelabu’s political ambition comes amid growing criticism of his performance as Minister of Power since his appointment in August 2023, particularly as Nigerians grapple with worsening electricity supply during the current heat season.
Despite Nigeria’s installed generation capacity of about 13,625 megawatts, actual electricity supply has remained below 5,000 megawatts. Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission shows that only about 5,506MW was transmitted in October 2025, while early 2026 figures indicate an average of 4,901MW available for dispatch—just 36 per cent of capacity.
The sector has also been plagued by recurring national grid collapses. Over the past five years, the grid has recorded at least 26 system failures, with nine occurring in 2024 alone, often plunging large parts of the country into prolonged blackouts.
While the federal government introduced tariff reforms under Adelabu’s leadership – targeting higher-paying customers to reduce subsidy burdens – many Nigerians say increased electricity costs have not translated into improved service delivery.
Industry challenges, including over ₦6 trillion in sector debt and persistent gas supply shortages, continue to limit generation. Gas-fired plants, which form the backbone of Nigeria’s power supply, are receiving less than half of the fuel required for optimal operation, forcing operators to reduce output.
As a result, households and businesses remain heavily reliant on petrol and diesel generators, significantly increasing the cost of living and doing business.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M