Supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State on Thursday received former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, at the Alakia Airport, Ibadan.

The ex-minister who resigned on Wednesday returned to Ibadan to pursue his ambition to serve as the next governor of the state.

Video clips obtained by the Peoples Gazette showed loyalists, dressed in branded vests, dancing and singing as the minister arrived.

A viral video of Mr Adelabu’s arrival at the airport also shows the former minister, dressed in blue native attire, directing traffic on a congested road. 

The Gazette gathered that the ex-minister headed to the Adebayo Adelabu Foundation office in Jericho to meet with supporters and associates.

Addressing the gathering, the ex-minister thanked party faithful for supporting him during his tenure as minister, noting that he contributed his best to national development.

“I am happy that I am here today to the glory of God. I have seen and conquered. I believe I have tried my best. I contributed my best to national development and have overseen one of the key sectors in Nigeria,” the former minister said.

Reaffirming his aspiration, Mr Adelabu tasked supporters with returning to their wards to garner support and vote for the success of his governorship ambition.

“We would return to our various wards, move from house to house, telling everyone to vote for Adelabu,” he stated.

Mr Adelabu, who recently resigned from his position in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, stated that the position afforded him an avenue “to contribute to national development and play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector.”

The ex-minister previously contested under the APC during the 2019 governorship election and under the Accord Party in 2023, but lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Seyi Makinde, at both times.