Why I’m Not Afraid To Face Tinubu In 2027 — Adebayo

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has declared that he is not intimidated by the prospect of contesting against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election despite both politicians coming from Nigeria’s South-West region.

Adebayo said Nigerians battling hunger, poverty, rising fuel prices and worsening economic hardship were more concerned about survival than ethnic or regional considerations, insisting that the SDP would not campaign on identity politics ahead of the next general election.

Speaking during an interview shortly after emerging as the SDP presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Adebayo said the party was focused on providing solutions to the country’s growing social and economic problems.

“We don’t think like that in SDP. A hungry person in the South West is still hungry. Someone buying petrol at outrageous prices won’t care about regional identity,” Adebayo said.

The SDP flag bearer stressed that his party would prioritise policies aimed at tackling unemployment, poor healthcare, declining education standards and the rising cost of living affecting millions of Nigerians.

According to him, the SDP represents a clear ideological alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of placing politics and electoral victories above governance and the welfare of citizens.

“SDP is the party that has solutions to your social problems. It’s a party meant for ordinary people. When you wake up in the morning, you think about feeding your family, transport costs, education, food, healthcare, jobs and survival — those are the issues social democratic parties focus on,” he said.

Adebayo criticised the APC-led Federal Government over the removal of fuel subsidy and its handling of the economy, arguing that the administration failed to consider the wider impact of its policies on ordinary Nigerians.

“A social democrat won’t wake up and remove subsidy without thinking about the impact on transport, food, housing, jobs and people’s savings. But if you are APC, your focus is on winning elections and congratulating yourselves afterward,” he stated.

The SDP presidential candidate also addressed the internal crisis rocking the party following the legal troubles involving its former national chairman.

However, Adebayo declined to make detailed comments on the matter, citing ethical concerns due to his profession as a lawyer.

“Once you start with something being in court, especially someone who is at the risk of losing his liberty and facing a criminal trial, it is unethical for me to comment on it,” he said.

He, however, maintained that party discipline and due process must be respected by all members and officials.

“If you want to discipline somebody, you have to follow the law, and if you are facing disciplinary action, you have to respect it,” he added.

Adebayo further condemned the destruction that reportedly occurred at the SDP national secretariat during the crisis, accusing security operatives of aiding those responsible for the incident.

“It’s the police that brought them, and the police used them to pull down the gates because they didn’t want to do it themselves,” he alleged.

The SDP candidate also accused the ruling APC of attempting to weaken opposition parties through infiltration and political interference ahead of the 2027 election cycle.

“Yes, we are dealing with that. It is the desire of President Tinubu to be the only person in the race,” Adebayo alleged.

On education, Adebayo launched a strong attack on recent government policies in the sector, describing them as deliberate attempts to lower educational standards in the country.

“These are not reforms; they are deformations. The lowest-quality people are in government, and they want standards to fall because an educated population asks questions and challenges bad governance,” he said.

He also rejected the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, describing it as unconstitutional and harmful to young Nigerians.

“Student loans are a crime against the constitution and against the people,” Adebayo declared.

According to him, education should remain free, compulsory and accessible to all Nigerians because it is critical to national development, innovation and security.

“Why should students borrow money for education if education is supposed to be free, compulsory and qualitative?” he queried.

Adebayo warned that the failure of government to properly educate and empower young Nigerians would deepen unemployment, insecurity and social instability across the country.

“You will turn scientists into taxi drivers. You destroy civilisation, and insecurity grows because the people who should become innovators are abandoned,” he added.