The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has stated that he will not step aside for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming 2027 general election.
Adebayo made this announcement during a television programme, reacting to increasing speculation regarding a potential opposition coalition ahead of the elections.
In light of claims that the SDP could be integrated into a larger alliance to contest President Bola Tinubu, Adebayo was firm in asserting that neither he nor Atiku holds the power to “use” the party.
“I will not [step aside], and he [Atiku] has not indicated that anyone should step aside. Neither I nor Vice President Atiku Abubakar can utilise the SDP. The SDP belongs to the Nigerian populace. Nobody can utilise it.”
“What can occur is that individuals who now believe that the SDP is the right choice, and that their ideologies align, may join the party. Knowing that the party is open and democratic, they will want to come in and compete, as you have the best chance of competing in a system that hasn’t been compromised.”
“But if you think the SDP is something you can merely use, it cannot be used. What you can do is align with the SDP and respect its ideology and the work that has been undertaken by those already involved.”
“If you wish to join and contribute, that’s absolutely fine. But if someone is sitting somewhere wanting to exploit something, we are not available for exploitation,” the 2023 SDP presidential candidate emphasised.
While he acknowledged Atiku’s stature and political experience, Adebayo noted that the former Vice President has not directly approached him regarding coalition discussions.
“I must pay respect to Atiku, but what is clear is that others are speaking on his behalf. He knows what he wishes to do, and he has access to us. We don’t require a third party to inform us of his intentions.”
“When he decides to join the party, he will come to us. Until then, we do not discuss him, as he seems to understand his course of action — he has been campaigning for the presidency for over 32 years,” he remarked.
When asked if he was aware of the coalition allegedly led by Nasir El-Rufai and Atiku to unseat President Tinubu in 2027, Adebayo replied: “All of us wish to unseat President Tinubu in 2027. In fact, I desire to unseat him more than anyone else.”
In response to suggestions that the coalition might be searching for a stronger candidate due to concerns about his electability, the former SDP flag bearer said: “I cannot speak to that. Let the Nigerian electorate determine that. What I can assure you is that President Tinubu is not a match for the Nigerian people.”
When queried whether President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should be worried about the rising political discussions and coalition movements ahead of 2027, Adebayo stated: “There are significant discussions taking place that are not appearing in the newspapers. However, they should be primarily concerned with not serving Nigerians adequately. They should not be overly worried about losing elections; they should instead focus on not disappointing the people.”
He condemned the government’s performance, highlighting issues of insecurity and increasing poverty across the nation.
“The office of the President is not a monarchy. His political wisdom should be reflected in the welfare of the Nigerian populace.”
“This is not a theatrical production — people are suffering from hunger. There is insecurity. Every time the news is broadcast, it brings sorrow because you yearn for good news. If you possess wisdom, employ it to better the lives of Nigerians,” Adebayo concluded.
