SDP elects Adebayo as 2027 Presidential Candidate

• …AA applauds consensus move

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna and Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

​The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has officially named Prince Adewole Adebayo as its flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.
The decision was reached through a consensus arrangement during the party’s National Convention held at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.
​The convention, themed “Building a People’s Coalition to Secure Our Homeland and Defeat Poverty,” also saw the endorsement of Professor Sadiq Gombe as the National Chairman, alongside a newly constituted National Working Committee (NWC).
​In his acceptance speech, Adebayo—who also flew the party’s flag in the 2023 polls—lamented the current state of the nation.
He criticized economic policies that he claims make “hardworking Nigerians look lazy” due to their inability to meet basic needs like food and healthcare.
​“Why am I in China hiding from immigration just to earn a living when I have a country of my own?” Adebayo asked, highlighting the plight of the Nigerian diaspora.
​He further warned against the country drifting toward a “one-man rule” and called for a vibrant multi-party system to safeguard democracy.
​The Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Usman Bugaje, used the platform to decry the “despicable” attempts by the ruling party to shrink the political space.
He alleged that state institutions, including the judiciary and INEC, are being used as tools to suppress the opposition.
​Bugaje noted that the SDP is presenting “fresh candidates” as an alternative to other parties that continue to recycle leaders responsible for Nigeria’s current challenges, such as insecurity and high fuel prices.
​In a notable show of inter-party cooperation, the Action Alliance (AA) sent a representative to the convention to congratulate the SDP. Speaking from Kaduna, the AA envoy described the consensus emergence of Adebayo as a victory for “internal democracy and transparency.”
​The AA representative emphasized that Nigeria’s issues—ranging from economic growth to national unity—require constructive engagement across party lines rather than sheer hostility.
​“Our country’s issues call for not only political competition but also meaningful collaboration,” the AA envoy stated, urging all stakeholders to commit to issue-based campaigns ahead of 2027.
​Following the convention, Professor Sadiq Gombe pledged a transparent and patriotic leadership.