By Oladele Ogunsola

The conspicuous absence of the Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, at the inauguration of the 11-member committee set up earlier this week to incorporate the Grid Asset Management Company (GAMCO) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has triggered anxiety within political circles.
Adelabu, who has long been touted as the anointed gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 election in Oyo State, is widely expected to step down from his ministerial position months ahead of the anticipated political showdown in the state.
However, as of the time of filing this report, there has been no official announcement of his resignation as Minister of Power. His absence at the inauguration of the influential committee—headed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila—has therefore intensified speculation about his next political move.
Political observers argue that Adelabu’s exclusion from such a strategic committee raises eyebrows, especially considering his pivotal role as the minister responsible for Nigeria’s power sector.
The committee is expected to drive the incorporation of GAMCO, an initiative designed to transform the country’s electricity sector by addressing stranded power, easing transmission bottlenecks, and tackling aging infrastructure through optimized grid management and the development of high-capacity transmission lines. The plan also aims to unlock capacity from the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).
A political analyst in Ibadan who spoke with Frontline News said it was difficult to explain the minister’s absence from a project directly tied to his ministry.
“If nothing unusual is happening, it is hard to understand why the Minister of Power would not be part of a strategic initiative meant to address major challenges in the sector,” the analyst said.
“What exactly is the core duty of the minister if he is not involved in such a major reform effort? The situation appears cloudy.”
Although several political heavyweights are reportedly eyeing the APC governorship ticket in Oyo State, Adelabu—who previously contested the governorship election under the APC in 2019 and the Accord Party in 2023—remains widely regarded as a strong favourite within the ruling party.
Insiders say his eventual appointment as minister representing Oyo State was seen by many as a political bridge-building move by the APC leadership, despite his previous opposition platform during the last election.
Several questions therefore remain unanswered: Why was Adelabu’s name missing from the GAMCO committee? Why has he maintained a low political profile in Oyo State as political activities gradually gather momentum? Has he quietly resigned from his ministerial position? Or is a broader cabinet reshuffle being planned that could affect his role?
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the minister were unsuccessful, as repeated calls to his phone line did not connect.