The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has promised to begin a rapid transformation of Nigeria within six months if elected in the 2027 presidential election.
Adebayo made the declaration on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State, while unveiling his party’s Governance and Accelerated Development Blueprint of a New Nigeria (2027–2031), titled “Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity.”
The blueprint was unveiled at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, with party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders in attendance.
Adebayo described the document as a framework for delivering security, productivity and prosperity, arguing that Nigeria’s challenges were not caused by a shortage of human or natural resources.
According to him, the major challenge confronting the country is the inability of successive governments to effectively organise the state and convert available resources into improved living conditions for citizens.
He said his proposed administration would be guided by constitutionalism, social democracy, the basic needs approach, cooperative federalism and strategic partnership with the private sector.
“Nigeria needs both: a capable public authority that guarantees essential public goods and a competitive private economy that innovates, invests, produces and creates jobs,” he said.
Adebayo said the 2027–2031 programme would prioritise security in homes, farms, schools, markets and transport corridors, as well as improved access to food, energy, electricity, transportation, healthcare and education.
He also promised to create pathways for young Nigerians to acquire skills, establish businesses and secure decent employment.
The SDP candidate said his administration would introduce measurable targets and deadlines for ministers, government agencies and public institutions, with performance reports made available to citizens.
He said public spending would also be tied to measurable outcomes, while programmes that failed to deliver would be reviewed and corrected.
“Our promise is, therefore, simple: government will be judged by what changes in the lives of Nigerians. Security, productivity, prosperity—these are not slogans; they are the standards by which this administration asks to be measured,” Adebayo said.
He further criticised the current political system, alleging that those in power had prioritised the exercise of authority over service to the people.
“We don’t have a government in Nigeria; don’t let anybody deceive you. Power is authority and government is service. The people there now are not governing but exercising power,” he said.
Adebayo called on Nigerians to organise ahead of the 2027 election and take steps to change the direction of the country.
The SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Gombe, said the party was committed to eliminating poverty and creating conditions for prosperity across the country.
Gombe argued that a government that could not guarantee security, housing, employment, education and food security had failed in its primary responsibilities.
He urged Nigerians to support Adebayo ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Also speaking, the SDP vice presidential candidate, Dr Usman Bugaje, said the 2027 election represented an opportunity for Nigerians to change the current trajectory of the country.
Bugaje said Nigeria had the human and material resources to assume a stronger leadership role in Africa and the international community.
Those present at the event included Afenifere leader and Alaago of Kajola, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; SDP National Woman Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola; SDP National Secretary and former Minister of Power, Dr Olu Agunloye; SDP Oyo State Chairman, Mr Michael Okunlade; former NANS President, Mr Segun Mayegun; and SDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Ugochukwu Uba, among others.
