Nigeria Must Win, Not Tinubu or Me – Adewole Adebayo

Adebayo made the remarks on Thursday during an Iftar gathering attended by SDP leaders and opposition figures in Abuja, emphasising that political power ultimately rests with God.

He expressed concern over comments made by President Tinubu at a similar Iftar hosted at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

“The president has a duty, just as I have a duty, to ensure Nigerians are motivated to vote and participate in the democratic process,” Adebayo said, highlighting the constitutional responsibility of leaders to encourage active citizen engagement.

He added that the 2027 general election should record one of the highest voter participation rates in Nigeria’s history, given the country’s critical state.

“I will plead with President Tinubu: he doesn’t have to win the election, just as I don’t have to win. The only entity that must win is Nigeria,” he stated.

Adebayo also cautioned against attempts by those in power to manipulate electoral laws or processes in their favour.

He urged President Tinubu to reflect during the holy month of Ramadan and ensure that Nigerians ultimately determine the winner of the next election.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the SDP, Sadiq Umar Gombe, stressed that the government must listen to citizens and create transparent electoral laws capable of delivering free, fair, and credible elections.

The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, also called on Tinubu to amend recently assented electoral laws to promote inclusive democracy.

Earlier, the SDP State Chairmen Forum, led by Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, praised Gombe on his emergence as the party’s national chairman following his victory at the Supreme Court, according to a statement by Idris Adamu, the forum’s secretary.