THE LAGOS STATE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT OFFICE (LSWMO), YESTERDAY, SEALED OFF SOME BUILDINGS/PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STATE OVER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL INFRACTIONS.(PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE
Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has firmly declared that he will not step down for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 general elections. Addressing speculations about a potential opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu, Adebayo emphasized that neither he nor Atiku can “use” the SDP, which he described as belonging to the Nigerian people.
Speaking on Wednesday, Adebayo clarified that the SDP is open to those who align with its ideology but rejected the notion of the party being co-opted for external agendas. “The SDP cannot be used. You can ally with it and respect its ideology, but if someone thinks they can just use it, we are not available,” he stated. While acknowledging Atiku’s political experience, Adebayo noted that the former Vice President has not directly approached the SDP about coalition talks. “When he wants to join, he will come to us. He’s been running for president for over 32 years,” he added.
Responding to rumors of a coalition led by Atiku and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to unseat Tinubu, Adebayo remarked, “All of us want to unseat President Tinubu in 2027. I want to unseat him more than anyone else.” He dismissed concerns about his electability, stating, “Let Nigerian voters determine that,” and asserted that Tinubu is “not a match for the Nigerian people.”
Adebayo criticized the Tinubu administration’s performance, citing rising insecurity and poverty. “They should be worried about disappointing the people, not just losing elections. People are dying of hunger, and there is insecurity,” he said, urging the government to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians.
Recent political maneuvers signal intensifying preparations for 2027. Atiku, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, has confirmed discussions with Labour Party’s Peter Obi and El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, to form a united opposition front. However, the PDP Governors’ Forum has distanced itself from these talks, citing risks to the party’s cohesion. Obi has also rejected coalitions focused solely on power, insisting on alliances rooted in addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
In other developments, defections continue to reshape the political landscape. Former Delta State Governor and Atiku’s 2023 running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, joined the APC in April, alongside six PDP House of Representatives members from Delta State. The Labour Party has also seen defections to the APC, while the SDP leadership clarified that no formal alliance with Atiku or El-Rufai exists at this time.
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