The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, yesterday challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a public debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, while unveiling a campaign plan that includes a N200 per litre petrol price, four functional refineries and 75,000 megawatts of electricity.
Adebayo issued the challenge in Abuja during the unveiling of his presidential manifesto, where he accused the political leadership of failing to address Nigeria’s economic and security problems.
“The first challenge is for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come out to debate,” he said.
The SDP candidate said his administration, if elected, would ensure that Nigerians did not pay international market prices for petrol, arguing that the country had the resources to make energy more affordable.
“No Nigerian should be living in Nigeria and buying petrol at international prices. That is why we have arrived at N200 per litre for petrol,” Adebayo said.
He also promised to establish four functional refineries and increase electricity generation to 75,000MW.
On insecurity, Adebayo pledged to defeat banditry within four years, saying a change of government through the 2027 election could significantly reduce the activities of bandits.
“We are promising that in four years we will defeat insecurity. When you use your vote in 2027 to change the government, you have a chance of defeating 60 per cent of bandits,” he said.
Adebayo attributed the country’s economic and security challenges to poor leadership, accusing politicians occupying the Presidential Villa and state government houses of being responsible for Nigeria’s problems.
“It is the men in the Villa, government houses, that are the problem of Nigeria,” he said.
Earlier, SDP National Chairman Prof. Sadiq Gombe said the party’s manifesto was designed around three priorities: tackling insecurity, increasing production, and guaranteeing prosperity for Nigerians.
“For too long, Nigerians have been asked to endure without results,” Gombe said.
He said an SDP administration would create the conditions for Nigerians to live securely, become productive and prosper.
