According to a report by The Cable on Friday, April 24, 2026, Bayo Adelabu, the immediate past Minister of Power, has stated that President Bola Tinubu has not endorsed any aspirant within the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.
He made the clarification in response to growing political discussions and speculation surrounding possible candidates within the party ahead of the election cycle, insisting that no preferred contender has been officially adopted by the president.
He stressed that internal discussions within the party should not be mistaken for formal endorsement or presidential preference regarding the race ahead of the election.
He was appointed as Minister of Power by President Tinubu in August 2023 following his confirmation by the Senate.
The appointment came after the formation of the federal cabinet, where he was assigned responsibility for overseeing the nation’s power sector and addressing related infrastructural and policy challenges.
He is expected to play a key role in ongoing reforms and policy direction within the energy sector in Nigeria.
On Wednesday, Adelabu resigned from his ministerial position, explaining that the decision was made in accordance with the Electoral Act provisions governing political office holders who intend to pursue elective positions, as well as his determination to fully concentrate on his ambition to contest the governorship seat in Oyo State.
He maintained that the move was necessary to ensure compliance with constitutional and electoral guidelines while positioning himself effectively for the upcoming governorship contest race.
Speaking with selected journalists in Ibadan on Thursday after returning to the state following his resignation, he dismissed claims circulating within political circles that President Tinubu had already chosen another governorship hopeful within the APC for the forthcoming election in Oyo State, insisting that such claims were not accurate.
He further reiterated that political speculations should not be interpreted as official confirmation of any candidate selection process within the party leadership at this stage.
Adelabu emphasized that he maintains a strong relationship with President Tinubu, noting that this connection has previously helped him secure the president’s support in earlier electoral contests and other political engagements over time within the party structure.
He said his political relationship with the president has remained consistent across different election periods and party transitions over time.
He also recalled that Tinubu, upon becoming president, extended an invitation to him to serve as a minister in the cabinet despite his affiliation with another political party at the time, adding that he subsequently rejoined the All Progressives Congress, which he described as his political home and base.
He added that his return to the APC was driven by alignment with the party’s structure and long-standing political affiliation.
He said, “When he became the president, he invited me despite being from another party, to be a minister in his cabinet. And not too longer after, I came back here to the APC where I truly belong.”