The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2027 general election, Adewole Adebayo, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu openly declared that he would not make the 2027 election “easy” for opposition parties, insisting that he would deploy the advantages of incumbency in his bid for re-election.
Adebayo made the claim during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, alleging that the President made the remarks during an Iftar meeting with leaders of political parties, members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and top figures of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja during the Ramadan period.
According to the SDP chieftain, opposition parties had used the occasion to express concerns over aspects of the Electoral Act, which they believe could undermine democratic competition ahead of the 2027 general election.
He explained that although he was not physically present at the meeting, the National Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Yusuf Dantalle, spoke on behalf of opposition parties and urged the President to reconsider provisions they described as unfavourable to the growth of democracy.
“The speech was basically to remind the president, ‘You are our head of state; therefore, you are the father of the nation, and the approach and angle you have taken to this electoral act is not good for the long-term health of democracy, and you need to listen to us,’” Adebayo said.
The former SDP presidential flagbearer claimed that the President responded by defending his position as an incumbent seeking another term in office.
“And the president said, ‘Well, you have provoked me, and I’m going to now say my mind; I didn’t want to talk before, but now I’ll talk. Why should I do that? Why should I make it easy for anybody? Why should I give you any free and fair election when I’m also a contestant? I was in the opposition, and I suffered and bore it like that, so it’s your turn. Why should I help you when I have the majority, so why should I use it? I have to use it to my advantage’,” he alleged.
Adebayo argued that while Tinubu has every right to seek re-election as the candidate of the ruling party, he must also uphold his constitutional responsibilities as President and ensure a credible electoral process.
He accused the administration of pursuing electoral policies that could tilt the political playing field in favour of the ruling party, warning that incumbency should not be used to weaken democratic institutions.
“When you are the incumbent, and you are the head of state, and you are contesting an election, and you are also conducting it, you should separate your personal interest as a contestant from your statutory and constitutional mandate as the father of the nation and as a public officer.
“So you should not skew your appointment, funding arrangements, regulatory oversight, and all of that to favour you. And we tried to make that clear when we saw the first time the kind of electoral act that he was pushing support for, and mostly National Assembly members to commit legislative suicide by legislating themselves out of relevance,” Adebayo stated.
The SDP candidate maintained that electoral reforms should strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy rather than create advantages for those already in power.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Presidency were unsuccessful as media aides to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala, had not responded to requests for comments on the allegations as of press time.
