ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has said President Bola Tinubu would deserve congratulations if he wins a free, fair and credible election in 2027.
Adebayo made the remarks during an appearance on Vanguard’s Politics Hub, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic process should prioritise electoral integrity over political rivalry and rhetoric.
He said the real issue in the country should be ensuring transparent elections and addressing the everyday challenges facing citizens.
“If we do free, fair and credible election, Tinubu wins again, he deserves a handshake,” he said.
Adebayo added that he is not focused on the size of President Tinubu’s political support base, insisting that elections should be won through ideas, policies, and direct engagement with citizens.
He also argued that many Nigerians are disengaged from mainstream political discourse, claiming that large sections of the population are more concerned with survival than online debates.
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“I’m not a social media candidate. I’m not the candidate of television studios and early morning shows. I am a candidate who wants to go to the people and meet them where they are,” he said.
According to him, economic hardship has shifted public attention away from political conversations.
“Nigerians are not online, they are looking for food to eat. Many don’t have electricity. Many don’t have money for data,” he stated.
Adebayo further said that during his travels across the country, he encountered communities where residents were unfamiliar with national political figures, including President Bola Tinubu.
“I show them pictures of Tinubu and many of them do not recognise him. If you go to some communities in Taraba State and mention Tinubu, many people will look at you as if you are talking about a trader,” he said.
He maintained that Nigerian politics must return to grassroots engagement rather than being driven mainly by social media conversations.