The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Adewole Adebayo, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying the government has fallen short of the expectations of Nigerians.
Adebayo expressed the view while speaking during an interview on national politics and the build-up to the 2027 general election, insisting that the country requires a new political path to address its mounting challenges.
The SDP chieftain said the policies introduced by the current administration had yet to bring meaningful relief to citizens facing economic hardship.
He stated that the debate should not centre on whether opposition parties are ready to govern but rather on whether Nigerians are willing to hold those in authority accountable.
According to him, he remains prepared to lead the country if given the opportunity.
“If you ask me whether I am ready to take over from President Bola Tinubu and govern the country better, I would say yes, I am ready even today,” Adebayo said, adding that he believes he has the capacity and ideas required to move the country forward.
The former presidential candidate also faulted the performance of some democratic institutions, noting that the duty of checking the excesses of the executive arm lies largely with the legislature and the judiciary.
He urged Nigerians to become more involved in demanding accountability and transparency from elected officials instead of relying solely on opposition parties to challenge government actions.
Adebayo also reacted to concerns raised by the Inter Party Advisory Council regarding Nigeria’s current electoral framework, after the body warned that it might boycott future elections if changes are not made to the existing electoral laws.
While acknowledging the importance of electoral reforms, he maintained that political parties should continue preparing for elections regardless of the difficulties within the system.
He described election boycotts as a serious political step but noted that parties reserve the right to protest if they believe the rules guiding elections are unfair.
“The right decision is to have a good Electoral Act that encourages people to vote and strengthens democracy,” he said.
The SDP leader accused the administration of pursuing policies that could tighten its grip on the electoral process instead of widening democratic participation.
He also dismissed suggestions for a broad opposition coalition involving political figures who have recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress, arguing that replacing one group of politicians with another who had previously held office would not solve the country’s problems.
Adebayo said Nigeria’s political situation requires a clear departure from what he described as a cycle of recycled leadership.
According to him, the SDP would focus on mobilising ordinary Nigerians across the country rather than entering alliances with politicians whose governance records he considers similar to that of the current administration.
In one of his strongest criticisms of the government, Adebayo compared the administration’s handling of the nation’s affairs to the actions of a doctor who takes charge of a patient with the intention of benefiting from the patient’s death.
He argued that the policies introduced by the government have intensified economic hardship and weakened public trust in governance.
Despite his criticism, Adebayo said the 2027 election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to redirect the country’s political future if citizens participate actively in the process.
He added that a strong voter turnout would be vital to ensuring credible elections and strengthening democratic institutions in the country.
