Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has cautioned opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, against attempting to use the party as a tool for personal political agendas.
Speaking on Monday night at the 50th birthday celebration of his wife, Queen Lillian Adebayo, in Abuja, Adebayo asserted that the SDP would not serve as a “getaway car for a conspiracy and robbery,” stressing that the party stands for principles, not vendettas.
He reiterated his commitment to the 2027 presidential race, emphasising that the SDP is not a platform for settling scores or waging individual battles against President Bola Tinubu or any other political figure.
Adebayo, a lawyer and advocate of democratic values, urged political actors to pursue their ambitions with integrity rather than attempting to hijack established platforms for self-interest.
“Of course, my party knows that I’m running for the 2027 election. As for the coalition, we are listening to them. We don’t want to be a getaway car for a conspiracy and robbery we did not plan. That’s not available.
“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. Don’t come to SDP to borrow us for a fight we are not involved in,” he added.
Commenting on the recent killings in Benue and Plateau states, Prince Adewole Adebayo urged President Bola Tinubu to overhaul the nation’s security strategy in order to effectively tackle the growing wave of violence and insecurity.
Similarly, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, criticized the emerging coalition of opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to journalists, Sowore expressed support for coalition-building and strong opposition in a democracy, but questioned the integrity of those currently leading the effort.
According to him, many of the key players lack the moral standing necessary to drive genuine reform or meaningful change.
“I support coalitions and opposition. But not the kind that has people like El-Rufai. When the time comes, the moment they are offered what they want, they will go back to where they came from.
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“The APC was a coalition. Did you forget? The people who are asking to form another coalition were former APC members. In fact, most of them were Buhari cabinet members who are supposed to be in prison forming a union of prisoners, not coalitions,” he stated.
Hon. Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, Chairman of the Forum of SDP State Chairmen and Lagos State Chairman of the party, stated that the Social Democratic Party offers Nigerians a viable platform to confront and resolve the nation’s pressing challenges.
“We can all understand what Nigerians are going through. We asked for change, but the change has shortchanged us,” he said.
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