The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2027 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has said Nigeria is yet to attain true democracy, arguing that the country remains under what he described as “civilian rule” rather than a fully functional democratic system.
This was revealed in a statement by Pastor Ade Alabi, member, SDP Media Committee, and made available to journalists on Tuesday
According to the statement, while speaking in an interview with journalists after the country’s Democracy Day celebration, Adebayo said that although Nigeria has enjoyed uninterrupted civilian governance since 1999, key democratic principles such as accountability, the rule of law, credible elections, and improved citizens’ welfare remain weak.
He argued that Nigeria’s socio-political challenges have worsened over time despite successive democratic transitions.
“Since 1993, only two things have changed — our problems have become bigger, and our democratic space has become smaller,” he said.
The SDP chieftain warned that rising poverty and insecurity could trigger deeper instability if urgent steps are not taken.
“Poverty has grown and given birth to insecurity. If we fail to address both, they may eventually give rise to instability, revolution, or even genocide,” he cautioned.
Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ Under Scrutiny
Reacting to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, Adebayo said many Nigerians are struggling to relate government promises to present realities.
While acknowledging the importance of long-term planning, he stressed that governance must prioritise immediate challenges facing citizens.
“A president is elected for the present, not the future. Hungry people cannot eat in the future. Children of school age cannot go to school in the future. Security problems cannot wait,” he said.
He criticised what he described as the administration’s focus on future-oriented promises at the expense of urgent economic and security concerns.
“There Are No Reforms”
Adebayo also dismissed claims that the current administration is implementing meaningful reforms, arguing that policy changes have not resulted in structural improvement.
“There are no reforms. Renaming problems is not reform. Increasing taxes and calling it tax reform is not reform,” he said.
On the petroleum sector, he alleged that government-owned refineries remain largely non-functional despite repeated assurances of rehabilitation.
Leadership Must Communicate
The former presidential candidate said Nigerian leaders have become increasingly detached from the realities faced by citizens, stressing that effective leadership requires consistent communication and responsiveness.
“The president speaking to the people is good, but the president listening to the people is more important,” he said.
He called for greater public engagement by political leaders, insisting that office holders must regularly explain policies and challenges to citizens.
Electoral Reform and INEC Independence
Adebayo called for constitutional amendments to guarantee the full independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He proposed removing the president’s power to appoint electoral officials, arguing that political influence undermines the credibility of elections.
He also advocated real-time transmission of results and improved electoral systems to reduce manipulation and restore public confidence.
Security Spending and Accountability
On rising insecurity despite increased defence spending, Adebayo questioned the effectiveness of security expenditures and called for greater transparency in the sector.
He dismissed concerns that scrutiny of defence budgets could weaken troop morale, arguing that accountability remains essential.
“The issue is not just budgeting money for defence; it is whether the money reaches the armed forces and is properly utilised,” he said.
He also criticised the reintegration of repentant terrorists, insisting that Nigerians deserve stronger and more reliable security strategies.
Despite his criticisms, Adebayo said Nigeria’s challenges are solvable if leaders prioritise citizens’ welfare and adopt practical governance approaches.
“These are problems we can overcome, but leadership must be willing to do what is right,” he said.
