Adelabu spotted directing traffic in Ibadan after resigning as Tinubu’s power minsiter

In a dramatic turn of events that has set the Oyo State political landscape abuzz, the former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, was seen directing traffic on a congested road in Ibadan on Thursday. The former minister, who recently tendered his resignation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reportedly stepped out of his vehicle to personally control the flow of cars, drawing surprised reactions and cheers from onlookers.

The public display comes barely twenty-four hours after Adelabu received a hero’s welcome at the Ibadan airport, where a massive crowd of supporters escorted him in a lively procession back to his residence. His return to the state capital follows his official resignation, which is set to take effect on April 30, 2026. In his letter to the President, Adelabu clarified that his exit is in strict compliance with the amended Electoral Act as he prepares to pursue his gubernatorial ambitions in the upcoming elections.

Adelabu, a seasoned politician who contested the Oyo governorship in 2019 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and in 2023 under the Accord Party, appears to be laying the groundwork for a third attempt in 2027. While some residents have dismissed his traffic-directing appearance as a “political gimmick,” his supporters maintain that the move signals a renewed and humble approach to his leadership quest. His tenure as Minister of Power was characterized by efforts to reform the nation’s electricity sector, but his focus has now shifted entirely to the political theater of Oyo State.