Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has strongly opposed any attempts by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and other disgruntled political figures to use the SDP as a platform for a personal vendetta against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Speaking during his wife, Queen Lillian Adebayo’s 50th birthday celebration in Abuja, Adebayo emphasized in a now-viral video that the SDP would not become a tool for political scheming and score-settling.
Adebayo expressed concern about recent political maneuvers involving El-Rufai, who has reportedly defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP. El-Rufai, in collaboration with a faction of the APC, is allegedly working behind the scenes to destabilize the party and form a new coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. However, Adebayo made it clear that while he remains committed to running in the 2027 presidential race, the SDP will not be drawn into underhanded political games.
He firmly stated that the SDP is not a “getaway car for a conspiracy and robbery,” warning that those seeking to hijack the party for personal revenge or as a vehicle for failed political ambitions should look elsewhere. According to him, the SDP would only support a coalition that genuinely serves the interests of the Nigerian people, not one fueled by disillusioned former allies of President Tinubu.
Adebayo also used the opportunity to call on the federal government to urgently overhaul the nation’s security framework in light of ongoing violence in regions like Benue and Plateau States. He urged President Tinubu to prioritize the safety of citizens and implement meaningful reforms.
Adding his voice at the event, Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), criticized the opposition coalition being formed. While acknowledging the importance of opposition unity in a democracy, Sowore dismissed the credibility of the individuals currently driving the effort. He argued that many of them, including El-Rufai, were key players in the APC and even members of former President Buhari’s cabinet. According to Sowore, these individuals should be held accountable for their past actions rather than being celebrated as opposition leaders.
Similarly, Hon. Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, Chairman of the SDP Lagos Chapter and Forum of SDP State Chairmen, reiterated that the SDP remains a viable alternative for Nigerians who are seeking meaningful political and social change. He acknowledged the public’s disappointment with past promises of reform, stating, “We asked for change, but the change has shortchanged us.”