Nigeria Yet to Attain True Democracy, Says Adewole Adebayo

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2027 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has declared that Nigeria is yet to attain true democracy, insisting that the country remains under civilian rule rather than a genuinely democratic system.

Speaking with journalists after the Democracy Day celebration, Adebayo lamented that despite uninterrupted civilian governance since 1999, critical democratic values such as accountability, rule of law, credible elections and citizens’ welfare remain largely absent.

According to him, Nigeria’s democratic journey has failed to translate into meaningful progress for ordinary citizens.

“Since 1993, only two things have changed our problems have become bigger, and our democratic space has become smaller,” he said.

The former presidential candidate warned that worsening poverty and insecurity pose serious threats to national stability if urgent steps are not taken to address them.

“Poverty has grown and given birth to insecurity. If we fail to address both, they may eventually give rise to instability, revolution or even genocide,” he cautioned.

On President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Adebayo said many Nigerians are struggling to see a connection between government promises and their daily realities.

While acknowledging the importance of long-term planning, he stressed that governance must address immediate concerns affecting citizens.

“A president is elected for the present, not the future. Hungry people cannot eat in the future. Children of school age cannot go to school in the future.

Security problems cannot wait,” he said.
Adebayo also dismissed claims that the Tinubu administration is implementing meaningful reforms, arguing that policy changes have not produced structural improvements.

“There are no reforms. Renaming problems is not reform. Increasing taxes and calling it tax reform is not reform,” he stated.

He further claimed that government-owned refineries remain largely ineffective despite repeated assurances of progress in the petroleum sector.

The SDP chieftain accused political leaders of becoming increasingly detached from the realities facing ordinary Nigerians, insisting that effective leadership requires constant engagement with the people.

“The president speaking to the people is good, but the president listening to the people is more important,” he said.
According to him, public office holders must regularly communicate with citizens, explain government policies and respond to public concerns.

On electoral reforms, Adebayo called for constitutional amendments to guarantee the full independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He argued that politicians should not be responsible for appointing officials of the electoral body.

“INEC cannot be truly independent when politicians appoint those running it,” he said.

He also advocated real-time transmission of election results and improvements in the voting process to reduce manipulation and restore public confidence in elections.

Speaking on insecurity, Adebayo questioned the effectiveness of huge defence expenditures in the face of persistent attacks across the country.

He called for greater transparency and accountability in security spending, stressing that the key issue is whether funds allocated for defence actually reach the armed forces and are properly utilised.

Adebayo also criticised the reintegration of repentant terrorists, maintaining that Nigerians deserve stronger and more effective security strategies capable of protecting lives and communities.

Despite his concerns, he expressed confidence that Nigeria’s challenges can be overcome through people-centred leadership and practical governance.

“These are problems we can overcome, but leadership must be willing to do what is right,” he said.