LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerians must exercise their constitutional right to vote and reject calls for election boycotts that could weaken the country’s democratic process, Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has said.
Speaking during an appearance on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Adebayo emphasized that active voter participation is essential to holding leaders accountable and ensuring government reflects the will of the people.
His remarks come amid growing political turbulence ahead of the 2027 elections. Nigeria’s opposition landscape is fractured, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) facing leadership disputes and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspending recognition of rival ADC factions. Some opposition leaders have floated the idea of boycotting the polls over claims of institutional bias.
Adebayo warned that electoral disengagement only strengthens entrenched political interests and allows politicians with questionable records to dominate the national stage.
“When citizens abstain from voting, it is not the politicians who lose; it is the people themselves,” he said. “SDP calls on every Nigerian to recognize the power they hold in their hands during elections, to reject calls for boycotts, and to ensure that their voices are part of the national conversation.”
He stressed that meaningful political change is impossible without broad participation, and that voting is both a right and a civic duty. According to Adebayo, democracy demands not only casting ballots but also holding elected officials accountable for their performance.
Acknowledging widespread public disillusionment, he noted that broken promises, unchecked corruption, and unmet expectations have eroded trust in government. However, he argued that refusing to vote or boycotting elections only hands power back to the same individuals and systems that perpetuate failure.
Adebayo criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that it has failed to deliver on key promises in areas such as security, job creation, economic growth, and anti-corruption efforts. He said the current hardship faced by Nigerians reflects a leadership failure that must be addressed through democratic change.
“I would focus on the fact that the government is not governing well,” he said. “The promises that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made… have not been kept. The vast majority of Nigerians don’t belong to any political party, and the government is failing them.”
The SDP candidate urged citizens to use the ballot as a tool for reforming governance and reshaping leadership, emphasizing that collective participation is the most effective means of replacing ineffective administrations through democratic means.
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