Adebayo: Nigeria Still Under Civilian Rule, Not True Democracy

By Peter Adelowo

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has stated that Nigeria is yet to attain true democracy, arguing that the country remains under civilian rule despite more than two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Adebayo said critical democratic principles, including accountability, the rule of law, credible elections, and citizens’ welfare, remain weak in the country.
According to him, Nigeria’s democratic experience since 1999 has not translated into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.
“Since 1993, only two things have changed — our problems have become bigger and our democratic space has become smaller,” he said.
Adebayo warned that increasing poverty and insecurity constitute major threats to national stability if urgent measures are not taken to address them.
He noted that poverty continues to drive insecurity and cautioned that failure to tackle both issues could trigger deeper social unrest across the country.
The SDP chieftain also questioned the effectiveness of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, saying many Nigerians have yet to experience its benefits.
While acknowledging the importance of long-term planning, he stressed that government must focus on addressing immediate challenges confronting citizens.
“A president is elected for the present, not the future. Hungry people cannot eat in the future, and security challenges cannot wait,” he said.
Adebayo further rejected claims that the current administration is carrying out genuine reforms, arguing that policy adjustments have not resulted in significant structural changes.
According to him, increasing taxes and rebranding existing policies do not amount to reforms capable of transforming the economy.
He also raised concerns about the condition of government-owned refineries, maintaining that expected improvements in the petroleum sector have yet to materialise.
On leadership, Adebayo said elected officials must remain connected to the people and be ready to listen to their concerns.
“The president speaking to the people is good, but the president listening to the people is more important,” he said.
The SDP presidential candidate also advocated constitutional amendments to guarantee the full independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including removing the president’s power to appoint electoral commissioners and ensuring real-time transmission of election results.
Addressing insecurity, Adebayo questioned the effectiveness of the huge sums spent on defence and called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of security funds.
Despite his criticisms, he expressed confidence that Nigeria’s challenges can be overcome, urging leaders at all levels to prioritise citizens’ welfare and adopt practical solutions to the nation’s problems.