Amidst widespread speculations that the Senator for Oyo South district, Sharafadeen Alli has emerged the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next February’s election, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, appeared to have concentrated his attention on delivering the responsibilities of his ministry.
Addressing the media in Abuja on Tuesday, Adelabu parried questions about the latest political developments in his home state and said that he is focused on addressing the country’s electricity challenges.
The minister, who declared his intention to contest the governorship last October, declined to disclose whether he would resign to contest the for the exalted position.
Eight days ago, President Bola Tinubu directed all political appointees seeking to contest elective offices in the 2027 elections to resign by 31 March.
The political appointees include ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, and personal assistants, as well as directors-general and chief executive officers of federal government agencies, commissions, parastatals, and government-owned companies.
Adelabu told his media audience in Abuja that he is focused on addressing the country’s electricity challenges.
He declared: ‘What matters to me most now is this job that I am doing as the Honourable Minister of Power. I am excelling on the job, and that is my priority for now, tackling foreseen, known and unforeseen challenges in the power sector.
‘Resolving the power supply challenges is my priority for now. We have between now and 31 March, if I am interested in the gubernatorial contest in Oyo State. It is all about service, whether at the national or subnational level.
‘I will not say more than that. Whether I will be here or leave is a matter of time. I will get back to you’.
Adelabu left the position of Deputy Governor (Operations) at the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2018 to pursue a governorship bid in 2019.
He became the APC governorship candidate in the 2019 poll but lost the election to Engr. Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In 2022, after losing the APC primary to Senator Teslim Folarin, Adelabu defected to the Accord Party and contested the governorship election on the party’s platform following the withdrawal of Ayodele Oyajide from the race.
Again, he lost the governorship election to Makinde.
He returned to the APC in 2023 and was appointed as the Minister of Power by President Tinubu.
