Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that while the president deserves an A1 in politics, his performance in governance amounts to an F9. In a recent interview with Vanguard, Adebayo said that the current wave of political defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is symptomatic of Nigeria’s deeper governance crisis.
Adebayo, a lawyer and long-standing member of the SDP since 1991, argued that most defections are not genuine shifts in ideology but strategic moves by political actors seeking personal advantage.
He said many of those defecting are not committed opposition figures but rather “retired” politicians who had temporarily found themselves outside the ruling structure.
According to him, such individuals often re-align themselves with power whenever the opportunity presents itself.
He emphasized that true opposition should be principled and rooted in concern for the Nigerian people rather than driven by the pursuit of appointments or political survival. “Many of them are being kept in waiting for the dramatisation of resurgence by the ruling party,” he said, accusing some defectors of merely being political tools used to weaken legitimate opposition movements.
Adebayo noted that poor governance, not ideological shifts, is the root cause of political instability and defections in Nigeria. He said that if government services improved and public welfare were prioritised, fewer politicians would feel the need to switch parties. He stressed that hunger, insecurity, and corruption continue to afflict Nigerians, making promises of reform sound increasingly hollow.
Speaking on President Tinubu’s recent address at the National Assembly, Adebayo said the president’s political prowess is evident in his ability to manage and manipulate the political class. However, he criticized Tinubu for failing to focus on what Nigerians truly need—security, stable services, and a functioning economy. He said that despite the president’s ability to assemble political supporters, the administration has failed to deliver on essential aspects of governance, especially in states like Benue and Plateau where violence and insecurity persist.
“The president can recruit and retire politicians with ease,” Adebayo said. “But I wish he knew what Nigerian people want, which is basic services, stability, and security.”
He warned that celebrating defections and political endorsements at a time when ordinary Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship only shows how disconnected the government is from the populace. According to him, the applause and songs being sung by Tinubu’s political allies in parliament are out of touch with the real struggles facing Nigerians.
Adebayo also reiterated that the problems Nigeria faces cannot be solved simply by changing political parties or leadership. He insisted that what the country needs is a complete overhaul of its political culture, governance methodology, and policy priorities. “No change of government is going to solve the problems without a change of ideas, methodologies, and culture,” he said.
When asked whether his commitment to the SDP and its ideology made him feel like a lone voice in a sea of opportunistic politics, Adebayo responded that his party’s principles are grounded in the Nigerian Constitution, particularly in Chapter Two which outlines the state’s obligations to the people. He affirmed that the SDP remains open to new members but stressed that any new entrant must conform to the party’s ideology and not attempt to hijack it for personal or transactional purposes.
He described the SDP as a movement for long-term transformation rather than short-term political gains. Adebayo noted that many young people are now drawn to the party because it offers a different model of political engagement—one that focuses on governance, not just electoral victory.
Adebayo also dismissed the notion that the opposition is irrelevant or failing. He argued that the true opposition lies with the Nigerian people who are increasingly disillusioned with both the ruling party and opportunistic defectors. He said that real political change would only occur when Nigerians demand better governance and reject the recycled politics of convenience.
He cautioned that the current political order, dominated by personal ambition and opportunism, is unsustainable. “We must sanitize the opposition first to know who is in opposition genuinely and who is there by convenience,” he said, adding that Nigeria requires a deep institutional and ideological reset to address its challenges effectively.
In conclusion, Adebayo asserted that even President Tinubu, once out of office, would need a functioning democracy and a government that works. He said that building such a government requires long-term effort, commitment to principles, and a rejection of the transactional politics that currently dominate the system.
