Prince Adewole Adebayo’s SDP vows to offer Nigerians a credible alternative, building patriotism and integrity ahead of the 2027 general election.
Prince Adewole Adebayo SDP leader and 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has expressed optimism that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is well-positioned to offer Nigerians a credible alternative capable of addressing the nation’s pressing challenges.
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Speaking on the party’s future ahead of the 2027 general election, Adebayo highlighted the SDP’s distinct identity from both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing it as an independent party grounded in clear principles and unwavering integrity.
“It is very rare to find a true SDP person who will have interest in the APC or the PDP because the idea of what they are doing is totally opposite to what the SDP is preaching,” he stated.
Adebayo revealed that efforts to strengthen the party’s structure and discipline are underway, including leadership changes to ensure greater accountability among members. Reflecting on challenges faced during the 2023 presidential race, he noted internal sabotage by party agents and officials who undermined SDP’s vote counts in several states.
“When I ran for president, there were elements that worked against us in the party. There were party agents who would not show up and state chairmen who collected our agent card and then went and gave it to another political party,” he said.
“I went to Kwara and discovered that from our research sheets, we scored 122,000 votes, but they recorded only 22,000 for us.
Those who were supposed to defend our votes thought they could have a relationship with the ruling party, and that messed things up. So, we’re changing those leaderships and bringing in new people.”
The SDP leader emphasised the party’s commitment to cultivating a membership built on patriotism, selflessness, and genuine dedication to Nigeria’s progress.
“It takes a while to get a political party whose majority of members will be people that are selfless, patriotic and in politics because they want nothing other than a better country. That’s what we are building in the SDP,” he said.
On the occasion of Nigeria’s 65 years of independence, Adebayo lamented the country’s ongoing disunity, attributing it to a lack of foundational vision during its formation.
Unlike other nations united by strong leadership, he described Nigeria’s creation as an accidental amalgamation of regions under colonial rule.
“If you study the history of some kingdoms and societies, you’ll find that even when they were divided, a great leader emerged to unite them.
That’s not the history of Nigeria,” he reflected. “Nigeria started accidentally. There were no great philosophers or great thinkers within our population who said, ‘Let us all come together. Let me unite the people.’”
Tracing the roots of this disunity, he noted Nigeria began as a trade zone managed by the Royal Niger Company before the British colonial administration merged the territories in 1914.
“It was a business arrangement handed over to the British government to manage as a protectorate and colony.
In 1914, they decided to amalgamate the territories, and 46 years later, they handed them over to local leaders who were united only by their indigenous identity.”
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Adebayo emphasised that early nationalist leaders inherited a fractured structure lacking a unified purpose—a challenge SDP now aims to overcome through value-driven politics and leadership that prioritises the people.
Source: Read more at thecable.ng
Ibrahim Onipede is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
