Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) 2023 presidential candidate, has issued a severe critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, calling it a “historic disaster” and arguing that Nigeria requires a fundamental political shift. In a wide-ranging interview, Adebayo outlined his party’s strategy for the 2027 elections, condemned the current Electoral Act, and rejected alliances with certain opposition figures.
Adebayo stated he is personally prepared to assume the presidency immediately, positioning the SDP as a government-in-waiting rather than a permanent opposition. He emphasized that the primary duty of opposition is to form a new government, not merely to critique the incumbent. His comments follow the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) announcement of the 2027 election timetable.
On the controversial Electoral Act, signed by President Tinubu, Adebayo was scathing. He claimed the law lacks a level playing field and contains provisions designed to protect the ruling party and undermine public trust. He supported the Inter-Party Advisory Council’s (IPAC) threat to boycott elections if urgent amendments are not made, calling it a justified response to a “legislative coup d’etat.” However, he advised parties to continue preparatory work regardless, asserting that the ultimate solution is to vote out the lawmakers who passed the Act.
Adebayo firmly dismissed speculation about a unified opposition front with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which includes former officials like Abubakar Malami and Nasir el-Rufai. He argued these figures are part of the same political establishment that produced Tinubu, sharing responsibility for Nigeria’s governance failures. Aligning with them would be hypocritical, he said, as the SDP’s fight is against a system of “non-performance, indecency, and corruption,” not just an individual. He distinguished the SDP as a party open to “decent and honest” citizens, even those with past misdeeds who show genuine remorse and restitution.
Regarding the SDP’s capacity for 2027, Adebayo expressed confidence rooted in history, noting the party’s role in the pivotal June 12, 1993 election. He argued that success depends not on matching the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) structural might but on mobilizing ordinary Nigerians. The 2027 election, he predicted, will be a contest between the people and the elite, with voter turnout determining legitimacy. He stressed that free and fair elections require widespread citizen participation, not just elite maneuvering.
Adebayo concluded that President Tinubu, whom he labelled the worst in Nigeria’s history, has exacerbated economic hardship, disregarded the law, and weakened democratic institutions. His administration, he alleged, treats governance as a means to personalise power. The SDP’s path forward, he said, is a “clean political break” focused on restoring constitutional order and public service integrity. The significance of his stance lies in its explicit challenge to both the current government and the broader political class he accuses of systemic failure, setting the stage for a contentious election cycle centered on competing visions for Nigeria’s future.
