Nigeria Not Yet a True Democracy -Adebayo

By Peter Adelowo

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 2027 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, says Nigeria has not yet achieved true democracy, insisting that the country is merely under civilian rule despite over two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance.

Speaking with journalists, in Abuja, Adebayo argued that key democratic principles such as accountability, rule of law, credible elections and citizens’ welfare remain weak in the country.

According to him, Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999 has failed to deliver meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.

“Since 1993, only two things have changed — our problems have become bigger and our democratic space has become smaller,” he said.

Adebayo warned that rising poverty and insecurity pose serious threats to national stability if urgent action is not taken.

He noted that poverty has continued to fuel insecurity, cautioning that failure to tackle both challenges could lead to deeper social unrest.

The SDP chieftain also questioned the effectiveness of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, saying many Nigerians are yet to feel its impact.

While acknowledging the importance of long-term planning, he stressed that government must address immediate concerns affecting citizens.

“A president is elected for the present, not the future. Hungry people cannot eat in the future, and security challenges cannot wait,” he stated.

Adebayo further dismissed claims that the current administration is implementing reforms, arguing that policy changes have not produced tangible structural improvements.

According to him, increasing taxes and rebranding existing policies do not amount to genuine reforms capable of transforming the economy.

He also expressed concerns over the state of government-owned refineries, maintaining that promised improvements in the petroleum sector have not yielded expected results.

On leadership, Adebayo said political office holders must remain connected to the people and be willing to listen to citizens’ concerns.

“The president speaking to the people is good, but the president listening to the people is more important,” he said.

The SDP presidential candidate also called for constitutional amendments to guarantee the full independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including removing the president’s power to appoint electoral commissioners and ensuring real-time transmission of election results.

Addressing insecurity, Adebayo questioned the effectiveness of huge defence expenditures and demanded greater transparency and accountability in the management of security funds.

Despite his criticisms, he maintained that Nigeria’s challenges are surmountable, urging leaders at all levels to prioritise citizens’ welfare and embrace practical solutions to the nation’s problems.