Prince Adewole Adebayo, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) appropriated his campaign slogan during their electoral campaign.
In an interview with journalists over the weekend, Adebayo expressed his frustration over the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He urged the APC to not only take his slogan but also his ideas to improve the lives of citizens.
“I hope that President Tinubu will adopt some of my ideas just as they took my slogan during their campaign, and use them to enhance the welfare of the people. I genuinely want President Tinubu’s government to succeed. I don’t wish for their administration to fail catastrophically just to defeat them in the next election. If we wait for them to fail even more spectacularly than they already are, the citizens will suffer irreparably,” he stated.
Adebayo highlighted that the challenges currently faced by Nigerians were anticipated by him and his team during their campaign, where they outlined the potential consequences of the APC’s policies.
He remarked that it has become evident to President Tinubu that he is in a precarious situation, nearing the halfway mark of his term without any successful policy implementations.
“And he is running out of propaganda to justify this because a hungry person knows they are hungry. No amount of ‘food is coming’ can deceive a child. Only when the food arrives does the child recognize it has come.
“The reality is that they are not improving on any front; they are not generating employment, reducing inflation, or lowering the prices of goods and services. They are failing to enhance security and are not making progress in any critical area that matters to the people.
“Whether it’s food, clothing, shelter, education, or healthcare—areas that can be measured—they are falling short. These are the issues we are addressing. We leave sentimental matters to those skilled in emotional politics.
“We focus on development and measurable outcomes, and even if you are a close ally of Tinubu or a member of his party, you cannot deny the truth of our statements. Our discussions revolve around these issues, and we present solutions. They should reconsider their approach and look at the solutions we propose, adopting them for the benefit of the people,” he added.
Adebayo also warned Nigerians that their current hardships were not coincidental and lamented that many ignored his warnings about the consequences of not voting for the SDP. He urged citizens to heed his advice as the nation gears up for the 2027 elections, advocating for a rejection of Tinubu and the APC.
“Listen now, because you have the chance to escape this predicament. In the next election, ensure that you remove the APC, allowing President Tinubu to enjoy his retirement while we establish a competent government to tackle these issues that should not be plaguing us.
“There are challenges we will face regardless of our development status, but there are certain problems we should not be experiencing in 2025, such as food shortages, insecurity, and lack of access to basic education and healthcare. These are not issues we should be facing now; we should be dealing with more significant challenges,” he emphasized.
He characterized the SDP as a party of ideas and discipline, welcoming only those who align with its principles. He advised those who do not share the party’s vision to refrain from joining, as it would be counterproductive given the party’s commitment to its core beliefs.
“Our party thrives on discipline. We encourage anyone who wishes to join us to be law-abiding and act in accordance with good conscience and the rule of law.
“We employ democratic methods in our party. We do not resort to desperate tactics, such as bribing delegates, falsifying lists, or engaging in factional primaries. We reach consensus on our ideology,” he concluded.
He reiterated that the SDP is committed to development and measurable outcomes, continuously offering solutions to the myriad challenges facing the nation, hoping that someday President Tinubu and his administration will reconsider and adopt their proposals.
