Tinubu Would Face Impeachment In Another Country Over Contract Remarks — SDP’s Adebayo Alleges Conflict Of Interest, Abuse Of Public Funds

Abuja, Nigeria– Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of openly promoting conflict of interest in government, alleging that the Nigerian leader publicly admitted awarding contracts to his business associates.

Adebayo said such conduct would amount to an impeachable offence in countries where democratic accountability and transparency are taken seriously.

The former SDP presidential candidate made the remarks during a televised interview while reacting to the increasing collapse of transparency, due process and accountability in the management of public funds and procurement processes under the current administration.

According to him, one of the major governance problems confronting Nigeria is the alleged practice of political office holders turning themselves into contractors while also maintaining business relationships with individuals benefiting from government projects.

“It is not me, it is Mr President Tinubu himself in Lagos, here in front of camera, who said that the businessman I’m giving this contract to is my business partner, and we are going to do a lot of business together,” Adebayo said.

“In another country, he would be impeached on the spot,” he added.

The SDP chieftain argued that governance and private business interests must remain completely separate, insisting that anyone handling public resources must strictly comply with constitutional provisions guiding public finance and accountability.

According to Adebayo, the Tinubu administration has failed to follow due process in the handling of government revenues and appropriated funds.

“If you are to touch government money, which is public money, you must comply with Section 162 of the Constitution,” he said.

He further stated that trillions of naira had been expended by the current administration without adequate accountability or transparency regarding the projects executed with the funds.

“At the end of the day, trillions have gone, none of the projects is being accounted for, and every category of revenue is being abused,” Adebayo claimed.

The former presidential candidate maintained that the abuse of procurement procedures and public finance regulations forms part of a wider governance failure that has deepened corruption, weakened institutions and worsened economic hardship across the country.

Adebayo stated that his party would adopt stricter standards of accountability and transparency if voted into power in the 2027 general elections.

“We would deviate from that,” he said while referring to what he described as the practice of public officials engaging in business transactions with associates while occupying government offices.

The SDP stalwart also renewed his criticism of the economic policies introduced by the Tinubu administration, insisting that he warned Nigerians during the 2023 election campaigns that the government’s policy direction would damage the economy and erode citizens’ purchasing power.

“I said President Tinubu’s policies would ruin the economy and ruin purchasing power for the people,” he stated.

Adebayo further argued that the economic situation in Nigeria had deteriorated to the point where citizens could no longer survive comfortably on legitimate earnings.

“No matter how much your organisation pays you in Nigeria, you cannot earn an honest living,” he said.

He added that an SDP-led administration would focus on constitutional governance, prudent management of public funds, transparency in government spending, improved healthcare delivery, quality education and policies aimed at restoring economic stability and improving the welfare of Nigerians.

The comments come amid growing public concerns over rising inflation, worsening cost of living, declining purchasing power and increasing scrutiny of government spending under the current administration.