Adebayo warns Nigerians against ‘Recycled Politicians’ ahead of 2027 elections

The leader and presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has criticised the emergence of some former government officials as opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying many of them were part of the system that created Nigeria’s current challenges.

Speaking during an interview at the weekend, Adebayo said replacing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with politicians who previously held power without addressing key national problems would not bring the change Nigerians desire.

According to him, several politicians now presenting themselves as leaders of the opposition previously held positions where they had the opportunity to reform governance and improve the electoral process but failed to do so.

“You cannot say you are against corruption or bad governance and then align with the same people who created the problem,” he said.

Adebayo also criticised opposition figures who recently moved to the African Democratic Congress, arguing that many of them had spent years in government without introducing meaningful reforms.

He said some of those now criticising the current administration were part of governments that ignored opportunities to strengthen democratic institutions, including reforms to electoral laws.

The SDP chieftain maintained that his party would not form alliances with such politicians, insisting that doing so would contradict the principles it claims to uphold.

Adebayo added that Nigeria’s political future should focus on credible leaders and policies rather than coalitions formed solely to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress, warning that replacing one group responsible for the problem with another would not solve the country’s challenges.