Adebayo Urges Media to Defend Democracy Ahead of 2027 Polls

•SDP Candidate Calls for Fair Coverage of Political Parties

•Blames Poverty, Insecurity for Nigeria’s Deepening Crisis

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has urged media organisations to defend democracy by ensuring fair and balanced coverage of political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He made the call during an interactive session with political editors and media executives in Abuja, where he identified poverty and insecurity as major obstacles to Nigeria’s progress.

Adebayo urged journalists to maintain their independence and hold public officials accountable, arguing that neutrality should not prevent them from confronting corruption, insecurity, poverty and threats to democratic institutions.

He also cautioned media organisations against commercialising political coverage at the expense of fairness, saying all parties deserved adequate opportunities to present their programmes to Nigerians.

According to him, voters need access to diverse political ideas to make informed decisions during elections.

On opposition cooperation, Adebayo said the SDP was engaging other political parties to promote credible elections, protect votes and prevent electoral manipulation.

He recalled the party’s democratic struggle during the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the subsequent military era, reaffirming its commitment to democratic governance.

Turning to the economy, the SDP candidate defended his proposal to sell petrol at about N200 per litre, arguing that Nigerians who earn in naira should not bear international prices for locally available resources.

He explained that the proposal would rely on crude oil allocated for domestic refining, while revenue from other petroleum products would help support the economy and public transportation.

On the Ebola situation, Adebayo called for transparency and accurate public health information. He urged Nigerians to observe recommended precautions and seek medical attention when necessary.

The SDP vice-presidential candidate, Professor Usman Bugaje, also identified poverty and insecurity as interconnected challenges, noting that violence prevented farmers from reaching their farms and contributed to food shortages.

Bugaje urged journalists to investigate communities affected by insecurity and bring the experiences of displaced Nigerians to public attention.

He also advocated stronger food and health security through increased domestic production, alongside reforms to Nigeria’s political culture.

According to him, Nigerians should choose their leaders based on competence and capacity rather than ethnicity, religion or political rotation.

The SDP National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, urged the media to educate the public about the party’s policy document, expressing confidence that its presidential ticket would win the 2027 election.

He said an SDP administration would prioritise efforts to tackle poverty and insecurity.

Earlier, the Chief Media and Communications Adviser to the Adebayo-Bugaje Campaign, Mark Adebayo, said the engagement aimed to promote transparency and encourage direct interaction between the candidates and journalists.

He said the party’s presidential ticket would focus on economic growth, security, institutional reform and inclusive governance.