Adebayo: I’m Not Against Tinubu, I’m Against Poverty, Insecurity

Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, says his opposition to President Bola Tinubu is not personal, insisting that his primary concern is the failure to decisively tackle poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.

Adebayo made the declaration while appearing on a television programme ahead of the launch of the SDP’s 2027 manifesto, titled Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity.

“I am not against President Tinubu. I’m against poverty and insecurity,” he said.

The SDP candidate said his criticism of the president was driven by what he described as the administration’s inability to adequately address the worsening economic hardship and security challenges confronting Nigerians.

According to him, poverty and insecurity are interconnected and constitute the country’s most pressing challenges.

“If you remove insecurity, both physical insecurity and psychological insecurity, food insecurity, and all other forms of insecurity, and you deal with poverty decisively, Nigerians themselves will grow the economy, they will develop the country and make Nigeria a superpower,” he said.

Adebayo said the SDP manifesto would provide what he described as practical solutions to the country’s challenges and offer voters an alternative to the policies of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He accused the Tinubu administration of failing to make the welfare and security of Nigerians its primary focus, citing the removal of petrol subsidy and other economic policies as examples.

“President Tinubu has deviated from that. He hasn’t made the security and welfare of Nigerians his priority,” he alleged.

Adebayo also criticised the government’s handling of insecurity, arguing that occasional military successes should not be confused with the elimination of the problem.

“When you have an insecurity situation, you do not talk about tactical gains or episodic triumph,” he said.

“We rescue one person, we chase them 10 miles. Your job is to put an end to the insecurity.”

He said an SDP administration would seek to rebuild public trust in government, strengthen the security architecture and address the underlying conditions that allow insecurity to persist.

Adebayo is scheduled to formally unveil the SDP’s manifesto on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the Adwa Centre in Abuja.