The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party for the 2027 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has warned that Nigeria is drifting toward “one-man rule,” urging citizens to defend democratic freedom before it is completely eroded.
He made the remarks in Bauchi shortly after emerging as the party’s consensus presidential candidate during its national convention attended by delegates and leaders from across the country.
In his acceptance speech, Adebayo accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress of shrinking the democratic space, weakening opposition politics and attempting to dominate the nation’s political structure.
Adebayo stated that the 2027 general election would represent a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history and a crucial battle to preserve multiparty democracy, warning that the country’s democratic freedoms were under serious threat.
“The little freedom we have is about to be taken away from us. People have told me Nigeria is in danger of one-party rule. I said the real danger is one-man rule because that is where they are taking us”, Adebayo declared.
The SDP candidate accused the federal government of interfering in opposition parties and intimidating political actors perceived as threats to the ruling establishment.
Adebayo described the SDP convention as proof that democracy and opposition politics were still alive despite what he called efforts to frustrate the party’s activities.
He added that the SDP would contest and win the 2027 presidential election while pursuing majorities in the National Assembly, governorship victories and state assembly seats across the country with a focus on welfare, accountability, economic recovery and security.
