Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has escalated criticism of lawmakers opposing mandatory electronic transmission of election results, warning that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat from what he likened to “coup plotters” operating through legislative decisions.
Adebayo spoke on Politics Today on Channels Television on Monday while reacting to the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which sought to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory.
Framing his argument around what he described as a broader fight against anti-democratic forces, the former SDP flagbearer dismissed claims that public reactions to the Senate’s decision amounted to agitation. He said Nigerians were only beginning to mobilise in defence of democratic governance.
According to him, protecting democracy must rank above personal ambition, wealth, or political office, describing it as central to the survival, dignity, and global relevance of Nigerians.
Adebayo further drew an analogy between military-style coup attempts and actions he believes could weaken democratic institutions, questioning what he called contradictions in government actions.
He said: “That’s not agitation. That is a warm-up. I tell you, I pray to God Almighty that we will resolve the matter. That was not agitation; that was a fashion parade.
“I just came from Lagos. You see, we are all planning. Everybody is all over the country planning, because this democracy is more important to me than becoming President.
“This democracy is more important to me than being a billionaire, more important to me than anything else, because it is the ability of the black man to have a country of his own where he can exercise his talent, protect his family, protect his children, and project our power to the world. That is true democracy.
“The same government is saying that they caught coup plotters. All of us were worried. You called me to the studio here. We were discussing that if you are a coup plotter, we deal with you in this country. Why are we dealing with coup plotters while allowing coup plotters to be in the National Assembly and frustrate the intentions of the people of Nigeria? What we need to understand is representative government.”
