The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has said four years is enough for a determined and accountable government to significantly transform Nigeria.
Adebayo made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja while unveiling the SDP’s 2027–2031 policy document, titled Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity. He also challenged President Bola Tinubu to a public debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The SDP candidate criticised what he described as Nigeria’s “politics of comedy and clowning,” arguing that the country’s major problems were largely the result of poor leadership and ineffective governance.
According to Adebayo, Nigerians should judge political parties by measurable policies and results rather than slogans, ethnic sentiments or personal attacks. He urged voters to examine the SDP manifesto and hold the party accountable for its promises if elected.
Adebayo also questioned the utilisation of funds associated with the removal of petrol subsidy, demanding explanations on government spending on security, compressed natural gas (CNG) and electricity.
He challenged President Tinubu to a public debate, saying Nigerians deserved to know what had been achieved with the resources available to the Federal Government since the administration assumed office.
On insecurity, Adebayo said an SDP government would combine military operations with political, economic and social interventions to address the underlying causes of banditry and other forms of crime.
He claimed that changing the government through the 2027 election would go “60 per cent” of the way towards tackling banditry, attributing a significant part of the insecurity problem to what he described as government failure.
On the economy, Adebayo pledged that an SDP administration would target 75,000 megawatts of electricity generation, establish four functional public refineries and 36 modular refineries, while creating an enabling environment for private investors to establish additional refineries.
He also proposed selling petrol at about ₦200 per litre, arguing that Nigerians should not be subjected to international fuel prices when average incomes remain substantially below international standards.
The SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Gombe, said the party’s blueprint was built around three interconnected pillars — security, productivity and prosperity. He said the party would combine stronger security institutions with measures aimed at addressing the economic and social conditions that contribute to crime and instability.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Dr Usman Bugaje, similarly argued that Nigeria’s problem was not a shortage of capable people but poor leadership. He identified low agricultural productivity and high energy costs as major obstacles to national development and called for policies that would increase production and reduce the cost of doing business.
Adebayo maintained that four years of purposeful leadership could substantially change Nigeria’s fortunes, urging Nigerians to scrutinise the SDP’s proposals ahead of the 2027 election.
