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Power minister, Adelabu resigns to contest Oyo governorship election

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Power minister, Adelabu resigns to contest Oyo governorship election

By Obas Esiedesa, ABUJA

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from his position, bringing to an end a tenure marked by key reforms and modest improvements in Nigeria’s electricity sector.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adelabu said his exit would take effect from April 30, 2026, as he prepares to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

He noted that the decision complies with the provisions of the amended Electoral Act 2026, which bars serving political office holders from contesting elections.

His resignation was confirmed by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, who said the minister expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege to contribute to national development.

Adelabu’s exit comes after nearly three years at the helm of the ministry, during which he oversaw the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, a landmark reform that decentralised the electricity market and opened up investment opportunities at the sub-national level.

Under his leadership, peak power generation rose to over 6,000 megawatts, driven largely by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of several thermal plants.

He also oversaw improvements in transmission infrastructure through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative, while the distribution segment recorded gains in revenue collection and regulatory oversight.

Efforts to reduce Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses and close the metering gap were advanced through initiatives such as the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-backed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.

On the financial side, Adelabu said reforms, including tariff adjustments and a N4 trillion debt restructuring programme, helped boost market revenues from about N1 trillion in 2023 to N2.3 trillion in 2025. He noted that the measures restored investor confidence and placed the sector on a path toward sustainability.

Despite these gains, the outgoing minister acknowledged lingering challenges, including inadequate gas supply, infrastructure vandalism, and incomplete commercialisation of the electricity value chain, which have continued to constrain stable power supply.

As part of his exit recommendations, Adelabu proposed the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to harmonise policy direction across the power, gas, water, and environmental sectors.

He argued that stronger coordination is critical to improving gas availability for thermal generation, optimising hydro resources, and accelerating renewable energy deployment.

He also called for the continuation of key reforms, including cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, nationwide metering, and sustained investment in transmission infrastructure.

Tunji said Adelabu remains committed to ensuring a seamless handover process, even as he bows out of office, leaving behind a reform-driven legacy in a sector still grappling with deep-rooted structural challenges.

The post Power minister, Adelabu resigns to contest Oyo governorship election appeared first on Vanguard News.


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Politics

‘INEC chairman, Amupitan is incompetent’ – NNPP factional scribe, Ogini

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The National Secretary of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Sunday Ogini, has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, of incompetence.

Ogini made the claim on Wednesday while fielding questions on News Central Television.

He said that INEC’s chairman’s legal interpretations reveal incompetence in managing court rulings.

“Amupitan is not competent as a professor of law. The incompetence of Amupitan will cost us this democracy if we keep quiet.

“This leadership tussle in the NNPP, we were able to secure valid court judgment that affirmed the leadership of the Bito Abu-led executive, which I am the secretary.

“We got that judgment at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and the Appeal Court in Owerri also confirmed us. Do you need to go to Harvard University to know that you, as the unbiased umpire, must obey court order and valid judgment?

“Amupitan is incompetent. I am telling you here. I met him one on one. We discussed on this matter. I want Nigerians to know the incompetence of Amupitan today,” he said.




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2027: Peter Obi no match for Tinubu, not on president’s level – Presidency

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President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has said that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, is not a match for the president.

Onanuga said Obi isn’t at the same level with Tinubu because he hasn’t demonstrated original and genuine thinking.

Posting on X, Onanuga claimed that the former Anambra State governor has failed demonstrate proper leadership.

He wrote: “Peter Obi has never demonstrated original or genuine thinking.

“Nigeria needs a leader who can think and act in ways that go beyond what most people can understand, someone who has shown they can deeply think through problems and take real action.

“Peter Obi isn’t as strong as President Bola Tinubu, and they aren’t even in the same category.”




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‘I’ve been vindicated’, Rep Agbese says after barring of first-timers from principal offices

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‘I’ve been vindicated’, Rep Agbese says after barring of first-timers from principal offices

Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has expressed satisfaction over the resolution of the House of Representatives, barring Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and other first-timers from principal offices in the Parliament.

The House, on Wednesday, while adopting a motion brought before it by Member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Hon. Babajimi Benson, barred first-time members from holding principal offices, including the minority leadership in the House.

The motion titled “Need for a Precise Definition of Order Seven, Rule 15 of the House of Representatives” was unanimously passed without debate.

“The House notes that Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives states that ‘only members with cognate legislative experience as Members of the House of Representatives shall be eligible for appointment as Principal Officers of the House.

“Aware that global parliamentary best practices rule out first-term parliamentarians from holding Principal Offices and reserve Principal Offices for experienced legislators to promote institutional memory, deepen understanding of legislative processes, and enhance competence in constitutional
interpretation and intergovernmental relations.

“Also aware that the 10th Senate has recently specifically defined ‘cognate legislative experience’ to mean ‘Senators who have completed at least one full four-year term’, adding that those with multiple previous terms must have served in the immediate past Assembly”, the motion reads.

The House also took cognisance of the need to “prioritise institutional memory, deepen parliamentary stability and continuity, legislative experience, minimise avoidable turbulence and promote mature representation in the comity of international parliamentary associations”.

The House therefore defined ‘Cognate Legislative Experience’ as contained in Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House to mean – ‘Members who have completed at least one full four-year term. The House also stated unequivocally that there is no other definition to the term ‘cognate legislative experience’ other than as stated above.

Reacting, Hon. Agbese described the resolution as an act of God, saying he has been vindicated by God.

“No one goes to heaven through the back doors. The only acceptable and laid-down route to see God is through his son, Jesus. The Bible is clear on that.

“Order 7 Rules 15 is also clear on how to become a Principal Officer in the House of Representatives. You must be a ranking Member. You must have cognate experience. You cannot be a greenhorn and expect to lead the Minority Caucus. It’s not by gathering some of your colleagues or bringing a paper and saying so and so have endorsed you.

“It is in the Rules of the House. You can not smuggle yourself into an office you are not qualified for. Today’s resolution has vindicated me. It’s purely an act of God. This is good for the institutional memory of our dear Parliament”, Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, added.

Recall that Hon. Ugochinyere, Member representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, had hinted the House, during a session last Thursday, that 61 Members affixed their signatures to nominate him for the position of Minority Leadership.

But Agbese raised a motion on Personal Privileges, dissociating himself from the purported nomination of Ugochinyere, alleging that his signature was taken for something different and wondered why he would read in the Media that he endorsed him.

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