Yemi Obafemi
The Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has advised President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prioritise effective governance over political calculations for 2027, warning that the real concern should be about failing Nigerians, not losing future elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Adebayo acknowledged that political discussions are happening behind the scenes but emphasized that the ruling party should focus more on serving Nigerians well rather than worrying about losing upcoming elections.
“There are serious discussions going on that are not on the pages of newspapers. But they should be worried first about not serving Nigerians well. They shouldn’t be too worried about losing the elections; they should be worried about disappointing the people,” he said.
Adebayo criticised the federal government’s handling of key national issues, highlighting worsening insecurity and rising poverty levels across the country.
“The office of the President is not a monarchy. His political sagacity should be translated into the welfare of the Nigerian people.
“This is not a movie people are dying of hunger. There is insecurity. Every time the news is read, you feel sad because you want good news. If you have sagacity, use it to run the lives of Nigerians.”
Adebayo further dismissed speculations of stepping down for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or allowing the SDP to be used as a political vehicle in any potential opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to reports about growing talks of a possible alliance among opposition parties, Adebayo stated emphatically that neither he nor Atiku has suggested stepping down or taking over the SDP, asserting that the party belongs to the Nigerian people and not to any individual or political ambition.
“I will not [step down], and he [Atiku] has not said anybody should step down. Neither me nor Vice President Atiku Abubakar can use the SDP. The SDP belongs to the Nigerian people. Nobody can use it,” Adebayo said.
He maintained that while the party remains open to collaboration, any form of alliance must respect its democratic values and ideological foundation.
His words: “What can happen is that people who now believe that the SDP is right, and that their ideologies align, can come to the party. Knowing that the party is open and democratic, they will want to come in and compete, because you have the best chance of competing in a system that hasn’t been bought over by anybody.
“But if you think the SDP is something you can just use it cannot be used. What you can do is ally with the SDP and respect its ideology and the work that has been done by those who are already there. If you want to join and contribute, that’s fine. But if someone is sitting somewhere and wants to use something, we are not available to be used.”
Acknowledging Atiku’s long-standing political career, Adebayo added that any serious move by the former vice president to join the SDP would have to be made directly and not through intermediaries.
“I must respect Atiku, but what is clear is that people are speaking on his behalf. He knows what he wants to do, and he has access to us. We don’t need a third party to tell us what he wants to do.
“When he wants to join the party, he will come to us. Until then, we don’t discuss him, because he appears to know what he is doing — he has been running for president for over 32 years,” Adebayo said.
