A chieftain of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has rejected claims that Nigeria’s opposition space is shrinking ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the true measure of democracy lies with the electorate not the number of incumbents in office.
Speaking in an interview, Adebayo argued that the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, should not be mistaken for political strength, noting that democracy is defined by public sentiment rather than political office holders.
“What matters is whether Nigerians feel better about governance and leadership, not how many governors or senators a party controls,” he said, adding that “if you look in those directions, the government of the day, it is in serious trouble.”
Adebayo, presidential candidate of the SDP in 2023, downplayed ongoing political mergers and defections involving opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress, ADC, describing them as irrelevant to his party’s ideological focus.
He maintained that the SDP remains committed to its long-standing principles, distancing itself from what he called “politics of incumbency” and opportunistic alliances.
According to him, frequent defections among politicians reflect a lack of ideological commitment rather than genuine political evolution.
“If 36 governors move to one party, it is not my business. What matters is the quality of leadership and whether they are solving Nigeria’s problems,” he said.
He further claimed that major parties—including the APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, – share similar origins and failures, describing them as part of a “relay of inefficiency.”
The SDP leader emphasized the need for a shift away from personality-driven politics toward issue-based engagement focused on insecurity, poverty, and governance.
He criticized what he described as hypocrisy among political elites, particularly those who held power for years without implementing reforms but now position themselves as critics.
Adebayo also called for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s legislative leadership, aligning with advocacy for reforms under the “FixNass” movement, which seeks to replace most incumbents in the National Assembly.
“Nigeria needs a new National Assembly with virtually no incumbent coming back,” he said.
On 2027 and presidential ambition, Adebayo said he aims to secure a broad-based mandate from Nigerians, contrasting it with what he described as narrow electoral victories in the past.
He described the 2027 election as a potential turning point for Nigeria, urging citizens to actively participate in shaping the country’s future.
“There is no more room for insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and failing infrastructure. Nigerians must change direction,” he said.
