A civic advocacy organization, the Peoples Right Agenda (PRA), has raised alarm over an alleged plot to deliberately sabotage electricity supply in Ibadan and surrounding communities in what it claims is an attempt to discredit Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group warned that using electricity supply as a political tool could harm residents, businesses, and industries that depend on stable power to survive.

In a statement released on Sunday in Ibadan and jointly signed by its National Coordinator Tunde Olaoshebikan and Secretary Isaac Olatona, PRA said it had received credible intelligence suggesting that certain political interests may be working to destabilize electricity supply in Oyo State.

According to the organization, the alleged plan is designed to create public dissatisfaction and shift blame to the Minister as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

PRA acknowledged that Nigeria’s electricity sector remains one of the country’s most complex and historically troubled sectors. However, the group commended the Federal Ministry of Power under Adelabu for initiating reforms aimed at improving generation, transmission, and distribution across the country.

The organization noted that despite decades of structural challenges, recent reforms have begun attracting renewed interest from investors and encouraging stronger participation from state governments and industry stakeholders.

While acknowledging that progress has been gradual, PRA said measurable improvements have started to emerge in some regions, particularly in Ibadan.

The group referenced the recent visit by the Minister to the office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), where he reportedly directed the company to urgently improve service delivery to customers.

According to PRA, electricity supply in several parts of Ibadan improved shortly after the visit, with communities that had previously experienced weeks of unstable power reporting more consistent electricity.

“It is deeply unfortunate that just as service delivery begins to improve, there are indications that some individuals may be attempting to undermine these efforts for political gains,” the statement said.

The organization described such actions as harmful to the public, noting that deliberate disruptions in electricity supply could negatively affect economic activities across the state.

PRA recalled that throughout much of the previous year, residents and businesses in Ibadan experienced noticeable improvements in electricity supply. Commercial hubs and industrial clusters reportedly benefited from longer hours of power, allowing businesses to increase productivity and reduce reliance on costly alternative power sources.

“These gains were not accidental,” the statement said. “They were the result of coordinated interventions by the Federal Ministry of Power working with sector stakeholders to address technical bottlenecks, stabilize supply, and improve distribution efficiency.”

However, the group warned that as political activities increase ahead of the 2027 elections, essential public utilities could become targets of political manipulation.

“It is highly concerning that just as political campaigns begin to intensify, coordinated disruptions appear to be emerging to reverse the modest but important gains achieved in recent months,” the statement added.

The group warned that deliberate disruptions would disproportionately affect ordinary Nigerians including traders, artisans, welders, tailors, students, and small-scale manufacturers who rely heavily on electricity for their daily livelihoods.

“The public must remain vigilant and ask critical questions,” the statement continued. “Who stands to benefit from sudden disruptions after months of relative stability, and why now?”

PRA therefore called on security agencies, regulatory authorities, and oversight institutions to intensify monitoring across the power sector in Oyo State to ensure that no individual or group sabotages infrastructure or manipulates electricity supply for political purposes.

While acknowledging that electricity distribution is influenced by several factors including generation capacity, gas supply, transmission constraints, and distribution efficiency, the group urged Nigerians to rely on verified facts rather than politically motivated narratives.

“As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, citizens must resist attempts to manufacture crises for political advantage,” PRA concluded. “Electricity is a public good, not a political weapon. It must never be sacrificed on the altar of ambition.”

The organization urged stakeholders across the country to protect recent gains in the power sector and work collectively toward sustaining improvements in electricity supply for Nigerians.

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The group warned that using electricity supply as a political tool could harm residents, businesses, and industries that depend on stable power to survive.

In a statement released on Sunday in Ibadan and jointly signed by its National Coordinator Tunde Olaoshebikan and Secretary Isaac Olatona, PRA said it had received credible intelligence suggesting that certain political interests may be working to destabilize electricity supply in Oyo State.

According to the organization, the alleged plan is designed to create public dissatisfaction and shift blame to the Minister as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

The organization noted that despite decades of structural challenges, recent reforms have begun attracting renewed interest from investors and encouraging stronger participation from state governments and industry stakeholders.

While acknowledging that progress has been gradual, PRA said measurable improvements have started to emerge in some regions, particularly in Ibadan.

The group referenced the recent visit by the Minister to the office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), where he reportedly directed the company to urgently improve service delivery to customers.

According to PRA, electricity supply in several parts of Ibadan improved shortly after the visit, with communities that had previously experienced weeks of unstable power reporting more consistent electricity.

“It is deeply unfortunate that just as service delivery begins to improve, there are indications that some individuals may be attempting to undermine these efforts for political gains,” the statement said.

The organization described such actions as harmful to the public, noting that deliberate disruptions in electricity supply could negatively affect economic activities across the state.

“These gains were not accidental,” the statement said. “They were the result of coordinated interventions by the Federal Ministry of Power working with sector stakeholders to address technical bottlenecks, stabilize supply, and improve distribution efficiency.”

However, the group warned that as political activities increase ahead of the 2027 elections, essential public utilities could become targets of political manipulation.

“It is highly concerning that just as political campaigns begin to intensify, coordinated disruptions appear to be emerging to reverse the modest but important gains achieved in recent months,” the statement added.

PRA described any attempt to weaponize electricity supply as “anti-people and morally unacceptable,” emphasizing that reliable electricity is essential for economic growth, social stability, and national development.

The group warned that deliberate disruptions would disproportionately affect ordinary Nigerians including traders, artisans, welders, tailors, students, and small-scale manufacturers who rely heavily on electricity for their daily livelihoods.

“The public must remain vigilant and ask critical questions,” the statement continued. “Who stands to benefit from sudden disruptions after months of relative stability, and why now?”

PRA therefore called on security agencies, regulatory authorities, and oversight institutions to intensify monitoring across the power sector in Oyo State to ensure that no individual or group sabotages infrastructure or manipulates electricity supply for political purposes.

While acknowledging that electricity distribution is influenced by several factors including generation capacity, gas supply, transmission constraints, and distribution efficiency, the group urged Nigerians to rely on verified facts rather than politically motivated narratives.

“As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, citizens must resist attempts to manufacture crises for political advantage,” PRA concluded. “Electricity is a public good, not a political weapon. It must never be sacrificed on the altar of ambition.”

The organization urged stakeholders across the country to protect recent gains in the power sector and work collectively toward sustaining improvements in electricity supply for Nigerians.

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