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The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have issued a damning joint statement calling for the immediate resignation of Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adelabu Adebayo. The coalition, in a statement signed by Comrade James Ezema, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, the National Secretary of CNCSOs, accused the Minister of gross incompetence, and lacking capacity to address the country’s electricity crisis.

In their strongly worded statement, the coalition described Minister Adelabu as “a typical example of a round peg in a square hole,” citing his inability to resolve Nigeria’s decades-long power challenges. “Since assuming office, Minister Adelabu has demonstrated a lack of vision, innovation, and capability,” the statement read. “His tenure has been marked by an inability to address Nigeria’s longstanding electricity crisis, which has left over 40% of Nigerians without access to power.”

The coalition highlighted the dire state of the national grid, which delivers an unreliable supply of 2,000MW to 4,000MW daily—a situation that has persisted since the 1980s. “This failure has perpetuated a cycle of economic stagnation, job losses, and the closure of small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy,” the statement continued.

The CNPP and CNCSOs expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s lagging electrification compared to other African nations, despite its abundant resources. “This unfortunate reality has stifled economic growth, driven businesses into closure, and forced multinational companies to relocate to more business-friendly environments,” they said. The coalition also criticized Minister Adelabu for failing to utilize the opportunities provided by the Nigerian Electricity Act of 2023, which decentralizes electricity provision and encourages public-private collaboration. “His inability to market these opportunities to attract local and international investors has exacerbated the nation’s power crisis and undermined the potential for economic recovery,” the statement added.

The coalition further bolstered their argument by referencing a recent report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The report revealed three incidents of total grid collapse and two incidents of partial collapse in the fourth quarter of 2024 alone.

They noted that despite these failures, Nigerians paid N509.84 billion to electricity distribution companies during the same period—an increase from the N466.69 billion spent in the third quarter of 2024. “This is in addition to the 12 grid collapses recorded throughout 2024, which disrupted power supply across the country,” the coalition noted. “With no tangible improvement in electricity supply since January 2025, it is evident that Minister Adelabu has no clue on how to address the systemic issues plaguing the power sector”, the statement added.

The coalition also questioned Minister Adelabu’s qualifications for his role, pointing out that his expertise lies in financial services, hospitality, entertainment, agriculture, and real estate—not the power sector. “His appointment appears to be a case of political patronage rather than merit, and his performance has validated our concerns,” they said. The coalition urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redeploy Minister Adelabu to a ministry aligned with his competencies or demand his resignation within seven days.

The statement also took aim at the broader implications of the Tinubu administration’s policies, which the coalition claims have bred poverty and discontent among Nigerians. “While we acknowledge the President’s intentions to address the nation’s challenges, the incompetence of appointees like Minister Adelabu undermines these efforts and erodes public trust,” the coalition argued.

In a resolute conclusion, the CNPP and CNCSOs called on President Tinubu to act decisively in the interest of the Nigerian people. “The power sector is too critical to be left in the hands of individuals who lack the requisite expertise and vision. Minister Adelabu must resign or be redeployed immediately to prevent further damage to Nigeria’s economy and the well-being of its citizens,” the statement declared.

The coalition also announced their commitment to monitoring the performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies under President Tinubu’s administration. “Henceforth, the CNPP and the coalition will continue to assess the performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies under President Bola Tinubu’s appointees in key sectors, prioritizing the interests of the suffering masses who yearn for good governance across the country,” they affirmed.

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