ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The campaign organisation of Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, says a single four-year term is sufficient to tackle Nigeria’s major challenges if the country elects a leader with the political will and a workable plan.
The Adewole Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign Council made the position known in Abuja during a press conference, where it presented its candidate as an alternative to the established political parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The campaign’s Chief Communications Adviser, Mark Adebayo, said Nigerians should move beyond campaign promises and assess presidential candidates based on their ideas, preparedness, integrity, records and ability to produce measurable results.
He said Adebayo’s policy document, “Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity”, contains four-year implementation plans covering areas including security, the economy, energy, electricity, education, agriculture, healthcare, housing, social welfare, infrastructure, human rights and foreign relations.
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“Forty years is not enough time for corrupt leaders to stop milking a country dry, but four years is more than enough for a focused leader to rescue his people,” Mark said.
According to Vanguard, the campaign cited the administration of former Lagos State governor, Lateef Jakande, as an example of what it described as the possibility of delivering significant results within one term, particularly in housing, education and transportation.
Mark described the SDP and Adebayo as a third-force option against the two dominant political blocs, which he characterised as “Siamese Twins” that had failed to bring sufficient change to Nigerians.
He also challenged the other presidential candidates to participate in open debates, saying Adebayo was prepared to discuss virtually every major national issue.
“My principal, Adewole Adebayo is ready to debate any presidential candidate even at a moment’s notice in the areas of economy, technology, agriculture, security, constitutionalism, aviation, education, international diplomacy, oil and gas, personal integrity, and all debatables,” he said.
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On former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the campaign claimed Adebayo had a stronger record of personal integrity and professional achievement, while alleging that questions had been raised over Atiku’s integrity.
The campaign also criticised former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, accusing him of depending on populist rhetoric and alleging inconsistencies in his political positions.
It further rejected what it described as the use of ethnic and religious considerations to mobilise voters, saying Adebayo’s programme was based on what it called empirical possibilities rather than identity politics.
The campaign equally questioned aspects of President Bola Tinubu’s educational history while highlighting Adebayo’s own academic and professional background.
According to Mark, Adebayo attended St Stephen Primary School, Ondo, from 1978 to 1983 and St Joseph College, Ondo, from 1983 to 1989. He subsequently studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, was called to the Nigerian Bar and later travelled to the United States, where he passed the New York Bar examinations.
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Mark also accused Tinubu of avoiding presidential debates and said his principal was willing to face the President or any other contender without restrictions on the subjects for discussion.
The campaign criticised the Tinubu administration over what it described as worsening poverty, hunger, insecurity and the increasing number of children out of school.
Mark also predicted a decisive defeat for Tinubu in 2027 if the election is free, fair and credible.
“President Tinubu knows and all Nigerians know that in a free, fair and credible election, he will lose in a landslide in 2027,” he said.
He alleged that attempts were being made to compromise the electoral process and urged Nigerians to participate in the election while remaining vigilant to protect their votes.
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On insecurity, the campaign proposed the creation of a national anti-kidnapping and banditry command to coordinate intelligence gathering, tactical responses, digital investigations, financial tracking and prosecution.
Under the proposed framework, each reported kidnapping case would have a unified case file, victim-recovery strategy, communications plan and financial-intelligence investigation, while specialised security capabilities would operate within a permanent multi-agency structure.
Mark alleged that some sponsors of terrorism and banditry were being protected by influential figures, warning that communities were increasingly vulnerable to attacks by non-state actors.
He linked the security situation to the government’s constitutional responsibility under Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which identifies the security and welfare of citizens as the primary purpose of government.
The campaign also outlined plans for the electricity sector, including increased investment in solar energy and a restructuring of the sector to improve power generation and distribution.