2027: SDP candidate’s economic ideas deserve serious engagement – Ajaero
The presidential ambition of Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo has received a boost after Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero identified him as an emerging political voice whose economic ideas deserve public attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in a weekend interview, Ajaero placed Adebayo in a different economic category from three leading political figures he described as proponents of a broadly similar market-oriented approach: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Asked about Atiku’s economic position, Ajaero highlighted the policy ideas of Adebayo and Accord Party presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.
“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.
He described Atiku, Obi and Tinubu as sharing what he regarded as essentially similar economic thinking: “Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right.”
Ajaero, however, said Adebayo and Hashim represented a different strand of economic thinking, describing their positions as containing “new ideas worthy of engagement.”
Adebayo, a lawyer, businessman, farmer and philanthropist, has built his political programme around social democracy, productive enterprise and a stronger government role in expanding opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.
His approach emphasises using public policy to increase production, create jobs, strengthen public services and reduce living costs, rather than treating the market as an end in itself.
