SDP Leader Adebayo Slams APC, Says Nigeria Has Regressed Under Tinubu’s Leadership.
Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader and its 2023 presidential candidate, has delivered a scathing critique of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, accusing it of setting Nigeria back by a decade over the past 10 years. In a candid interview, Adebayo lambasted the APC’s governance, urging Nigerians to reflect on their personal circumstances to see the stark decline since the party assumed power in 2015.
“The easiest way for Nigerians to confirm my position is to compare where they were 10 years ago and where they are today,” Adebayo said. “Travel 100 metres down the street, and you’ll encounter countless cases of destitution. Water no longer flows in homes from the water corporation. So, what has changed? Go back to 10 years ago when APC took over from PDP—are you 10 steps ahead, 10 steps backward, or stuck in the same spot?”
Adebayo expressed little interest in evaluating President Bola Tinubu’s performance, which he described as “abysmal,” asserting that the SDP had foreseen the administration’s shortcomings. “We are not interested in Tinubu’s government being bad—I knew that before. That’s why I ran against him,” he stated. He accused Tinubu of making deceptive promises during his campaign, particularly on policies like fuel subsidy removal, which he said disproportionately harmed the poor.
“When a chef claims 10 bags of rice can feed all of Ondo State, you know he’s lying,” Adebayo remarked. “Tinubu knew his promises wouldn’t work. Telling the poor—who rely on okada, danfo, and keke—that you’ll remove fuel subsidies means multiplying their suffering by increasing fuel prices.”
The SDP leader stressed that his party’s focus remains on the welfare of Nigeria’s most vulnerable, offering alternatives to the APC’s policies. He likened Nigerian politics to a “nightclub” where only insiders hear the music, leaving the masses disconnected from the benefits of governance.
Adebayo’s remarks come amid growing public discontent over economic challenges, with the SDP positioning itself as a voice for the downtrodden. As Nigeria grapples with rising costs and infrastructure deficits, the party continues to advocate for policies prioritising the poor.