Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince (Dr.) Adewole Adebayo, has pledged to begin a rapid transformation of Nigeria within six months if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Adebayo made the pledge in Ibadan on Thursday while unveiling his party’s Governance and Accelerated Development Blueprint for 2027–2031, titled “Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity.”
The blueprint, which outlines the SDP’s proposed approach to governance, places security, productivity, employment, affordable food and energy, reliable infrastructure and accountable institutions at the centre of its development agenda.
Speaking at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Adebayo said the country’s fundamental problem was not a lack of resources or capable people, but the failure to organise government effectively to convert Nigeria’s potential into improved living conditions for citizens.
He described the blueprint as a covenant of security, productivity and prosperity, insisting that government must be measured by tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
According to him, an SDP administration would pursue a governance model anchored on constitutionalism, social democracy, the basic-needs approach, cooperative federalism and a disciplined partnership with the private sector.
He said the approach was designed to avoid the false choice between government intervention and private enterprise, arguing that Nigeria needed both a capable state and a productive, competitive private economy.
Adebayo said: “Nigeria needs both: a capable public authority that guarantees essential public goods and a competitive private economy that innovates, invests, produces and creates jobs.”
He added that the proposed administration would set measurable targets and deadlines for ministries, departments and agencies, while making performance reporting and accountability central to governance.
The SDP candidate said the objective was to create a Nigeria where citizens would feel safer in their homes, farms, schools, markets and on major transport routes, while also having better access to food, electricity, healthcare, education, skills and decent employment.
“This is not a catalogue of aspirations. It is a programme for delivery. Ministers, agencies and public institutions shall be assigned measurable targets, deadlines and responsibilities.
“Performance shall be reported publicly, failing programmes shall be corrected, and public expenditure shall be tied to outcomes that citizens can see and experience,” he said.
Adebayo also criticised the prevailing approach to governance, arguing that the exercise of political power should not be confused with the delivery of public service.
“We don’t have a government in Nigeria; don’t let anybody deceive you. Power is authority and government is service. The people there now are not governing but exercising power,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to organise ahead of the 2027 election, describing the current situation as a form of “collective punishment” that required citizens to reclaim their role in determining the direction of the country.
The SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Gombe, said the party’s blueprint was developed around the need to move Nigeria away from poverty and create conditions for shared prosperity.
Gombe said Nigerians had heard enough political promises and needed a government capable of delivering basic necessities, including security, housing, employment, education and food security.
“Any government that can’t give you security, housing, employment, education, prosperity, food security is not a government. Don’t wait until you are killed,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to support Adebayo and the SDP in the 2027 election.
Also speaking, the SDP vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Usman Bugaje, said the 2027 election presented an opportunity for Nigerians to change the direction of the country.
Bugaje said Nigeria had a responsibility to reclaim its leadership role in Africa and strengthen its position in the global community.
The event was attended by the Afenifere leader and Alaago of Kajola in Kajola town, Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; SDP National Woman Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola; National Secretary and former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye; SDP Oyo State Chairman, Director of Strategy, Adewole Adebayo Campaign Council, Prof. Femi Olufunmilade, Mr. Michael Okunlade; former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President, Mr. Segun Mayegun; and SDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Ugochukwu Uba, among others.
