The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party for the 2027 general election, Adewale Adebayo, has declared that he is “anointed by God” to provide what he described as a befitting opposition to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the forthcoming polls.
- +I’m anointed to give Tinubu befitting opposition — SDP presidential candidate
Adebayo made the declaration on Saturday while delivering his acceptance speech after emerging as the party’s presidential candidate at the SDP presidential primary held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.
Adebayo made the declaration on Saturday while delivering his acceptance speech after emerging as the party’s presidential candidate at the SDP presidential primary held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.
The PUNCH reports that Adebayo emerged unopposed as the sole aspirant who purchased the party’s presidential nomination form.
Speaking before party delegates and supporters, Adebayo said Nigerians were suffering from hardship, insecurity, unemployment, poverty and poor leadership, insisting that the country needed a new direction.
According to him, many Nigerians were questioning why graduates remained jobless years after leaving universities and polytechnics, while families struggled daily with hunger and lack of access to healthcare.
The SDP candidate accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of suppressing internal democracy and attempting to weaken opposition parties in the country.
He alleged that pressure was being mounted on opposition parties and institutions to limit political competition ahead of the 2027 elections.
“What we are doing here, they cannot do it. They wait for one person to choose everybody for them. We need different political parties that believe in different things,” he said.
Adebayo, however, commended Bala Mohammed for allowing the convention to hold peacefully despite what he described as political pressure.
He said, “I congratulate Governor Bala Mohammed for being a true representative of democracy.”
The SDP flag bearer vowed that the party would contest and win the 2027 presidential election, promising to provide what he described as people-oriented leadership across all levels of government.
“We are going to contest the presidential election taking place in January 2027 and, by God’s grace, we will win for the people of Nigeria,” he stated.
Adebayo also promised that an SDP-led government would tackle poverty, improve governance at the grassroots, strengthen democratic institutions and ensure accountability in public office.
The former presidential candidate said he was not fighting any individual politician but was opposed to corruption, injustice, autocracy and bad governance.
“I am not an enemy of any politician. I am an enemy of corruption, injustice, unaccountability and autocracy,” he added.
He further urged Nigerians to make use of their democratic freedom and support multiparty democracy, warning against what he described as increasing attempts to stifle opposition voices in the country.
Our correspondent reports that Adebayo emerged following a vote of confidence and endorsement by delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
