2027: Politics should serve the people, not personal gain- Adebayo
…rejects transactional politics
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called for a renewed commitment to the foundational ideals that shaped Nigeria’s independence, stressing that governance must be driven by public good rather than transactional politics.
He made the call at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Osun State, which brought together key socio-political groups including Afenifere, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), alongside other prominent national figures.
Addressing participants, Adebayo noted that Nigeria was established as a negotiated federation, with leaders from the North, East, West, and South working collaboratively during the Lancaster House constitutional conferences to secure independence.
He explained that early political parties were formed to drive development anchored on equity and inclusion, but lamented that this vision was disrupted by military intervention, which altered the country’s political trajectory.
“Since then, our political system has largely reflected military influence and post-military tendencies,” he said.
Adebayo stated that the Osun meeting was convened to revive a unifying national philosophy rooted in social democracy, aimed at redefining governance and strengthening the social contract between leaders and citizens.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond the SDP and Afenifere, focusing on restoring the core values that underpinned Nigeria’s early political development and ensuring that politics serves its true purpose.
Referencing legacy political movements such as the Action Group, UPN, PRP, NEPU, UMBC, the Northern People’s Congress, and the NCNC, Adebayo said they were all driven by a shared commitment to national service, adding that politics must once again prioritise the welfare of Nigerians over personal enrichment.
