Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has said he is open to stepping down in the 2027 elections if a stronger candidate emerges. He made this statement on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a program aired on Channels Television.
Adebayo explained that while he has political ambitions, his priority is Nigeria’s progress. He stated that if there is a candidate better suited to fix the country’s problems, he would not allow his ambition to stand in the way.
He emphasized that the SDP is committed to presenting a candidate that all Nigerians can be proud of, one capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the next elections.
He also assured that the SDP will not use religion and ethnicity to divide Nigerians. Instead, the party aims to provide a leader that brings hope and unity to the country.
As the 2027 elections approach, discussions about a political alliance among opposition parties have intensified. On March 20, 2025, a major coalition was announced by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai, among others.
The coalition aims to remove President Tinubu, blaming his administration for economic mismanagement, record-high inflation, and rising living costs.
The coalition is banking on the combined votes Atiku and Obi received in the 2023 elections, which totaled over 12 million. This was over four million more than Tinubu’s votes, despite his victory being confirmed by INEC.
Meanwhile, internal conflicts in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have made the SDP an attractive option for many politicians. Some APC members have also expressed dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s leadership.
Nasir El-Rufai and some of his supporters have already joined the SDP. There are also speculations that Atiku and Obi might consider moving to the SDP, though they have not made any official announcements.
As political alliances shift and opposition parties strengthen their strategies, the 2027 elections could bring significant changes to Nigeria’s political landscape.
