By Jude Opara
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has sent a strong message to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other opposition leaders, warning them against attempting to hijack the SDP for personal political battles against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking in Abuja during the 50th birthday celebration of his wife, Queen Lillian Adebayo, Adebayo maintained that the SDP remains committed to serving the Nigerian people and not a platform for disgruntled politicians seeking revenge.
“We don’t want to be a getaway car for a conspiracy and robbery we did not plan. That’s not available,” he declared.
While reaffirming his ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election, Adebayo emphasized that the SDP will only welcome coalitions genuinely aimed at addressing Nigeria’s challenges, not those formed out of political frustration.
“If the coalition is for the Nigerian people, the SDP is available. But if it is just a crime centre for disappointed Tinubu followers, they should go back to him and resolve their differences there,” he added.
On national issues, Adebayo called on President Tinubu to urgently revamp the country’s security architecture to address ongoing violence in states like Benue and Plateau.
In a related development, Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), also criticized the emerging coalition of opposition leaders. Speaking to journalists, Sowore expressed support for genuine opposition alliances but questioned the credibility of those involved.
“I support coalitions and opposition. But not the kind that has people like El-Rufai. The APC itself was a coalition, and most of the people behind this new move were part of Buhari’s cabinet. They should be in prison, not forming coalitions,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the SDP State Chairmen Forum and Lagos SDP Chairman, Hon. Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, said the SDP remains a viable platform for Nigerians seeking genuine change.
“We asked for change, but the change has shortchanged us,” he noted, affirming the party’s commitment to offering credible leadership alternatives.
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