2027: Adelabu, Shittu, Olaniyan to quit Tinubu govt for Oyo race

Three political figures from Oyo State serving in the current administration are preparing to leave their roles as they plan to contest the 2027 governorship election. The move follows a directive issued by President Bola Tinubu instructing all pp with political ambitions to resign before the end of March 2026.

The individuals affected include Adebayo Adelabu, who currently serves as Minister of Power, Adebayo Shittu, who holds a leadership role at a federal university, and Rauf Olaniyan, who chairs the governing council of a federal college of education.

All three are members of the All Progressives Congress and are linked to the Oyo State governorship race.

The directive from the presidency was made public earlier in the week through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. It requires all political office holders intending to contest elections to step down within the specified timeframe to avoid conflict between public duties and political campaigns.

Although none of the three officials has formally announced their resignation, indications suggest that they will comply with the directive before the deadline. Their planned exit is tied to their intention to focus fully on their political ambitions in Oyo State.

Adelabu, a former governorship candidate, is from Ibadan and has been part of the current administration since 2023. Shittu, who previously served as Minister of Communications, was appointed to his current role in 2024 and hails from Saki in the Oke Ogun area. Olaniyan, a former deputy governor of the state, assumed his present position in 2024 after leaving office in Oyo State.

Their expected resignation signals early political movement ahead of the 2027 elections, as contenders begin to position themselves within their parties for the upcoming race.