Prince Adewole Adebayo accepts SDP presidential nomination, calls for resistance to 'one-man rule'

Prince Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), formally accepted his party's nomination at a convention held in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi. He used the platform to criticise President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning of a drift toward "one-man rule." Adebayo, a lawyer and businessman, framed his campaign around constitutional reform, opposition to economic hardship, and resistance to perceived authoritarianism. He questioned why Nigerian presidents seek medical care abroad while citizens give birth under trees, repeating the line for emphasis during his speech.

The event, held last week, marked a symbolic revival for the SDP amid years of internal disputes, leadership crises and factional conflicts. Multiple groups had previously claimed control of the party, with court battles and allegations of interference from ruling party actors weakening its structure. The Bauchi convention signalled an effort to reposition the SDP as an ideological alternative to both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The gathering drew opposition figures, civil society members and representatives of Pan-Africanist and anti-establishment movements.

Oba Oladipo Olaitan, leader of the Pan Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, spoke at the event, declaring that "Nigeria is bleeding" and blaming neo-liberal economic policies for mass suffering. His presence highlighted growing alignment between sections of the Yoruba socio-political movement and the SDP's renewed platform. Adebayo argued that even the APC is oppressed under current political dynamics, saying the ruling party cannot hold open conventions because one individual chooses all candidates. He positioned the SDP's gathering as an act of democratic defiance.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →