The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, Adewole Adebayo, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of disregarding the Constitution, weakening democratic institutions and exploiting religious sentiments to secure political support.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Adebayo alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) used the controversial Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as a political strategy to sway voters, arguing that the arrangement neither reflected Islamic principles nor delivered the justice Nigerians expected.

According to him, the foundation of the Muslim-Muslim ticket was built on religious sentiment rather than genuine leadership values.

“There is a constitutional abomination. The president looks at the Constitution with contempt. Whatever the Constitution says he should do, he will not do, and whatever it says he should not do, he does. The whole concept from the beginning was to defraud the populace by using religious sentiment,” Adebayo said.

The SDP chieftain dismissed suggestions that the Muslim-Muslim ticket remains a political advantage for the APC ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that Nigerians are more concerned about justice, accountability and good governance than the religious identity of political leaders.

He argued that Islamic jurisprudence places greater emphasis on justice and competence than on a leader’s faith.

“In Islam, what is expected of a leader is justice. The reason Muslims participate in politics is to build a just society. Leadership is not about religion but about fairness, competence and accountability,” he stated.

Adebayo further maintained that Islamic teachings discourage the appointment of unqualified individuals to positions of authority and reject the allocation of public offices based on personal loyalty, favouritism or anticipated rewards.

He claimed that the APC’s reliance on religion had failed to produce the justice it promised Nigerians, citing former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as an example of someone who championed the Muslim-Muslim ticket but is now demanding justice.

“One of the strongest advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, Nasir El-Rufai, and his family are now crying out for justice. That is one of the greatest ironies of the entire arrangement,” he said.

The SDP presidential candidate went on to accuse the Tinubu administration of committing what he described as five major “abominations” in governance.

He alleged that the government had failed to respect constitutional provisions on public finance and appropriation, describing it as a fundamental violation of democratic governance.

Adebayo also accused the administration of shrinking Nigeria’s democratic space by allegedly weakening opposition parties and creating an uneven political environment.

“The second abomination is anti-democratic conduct. You undermine the opposition, restrict public participation, limit political choices and encourage an electoral framework that benefits only those in power,” he alleged.

Advertisement

On national unity and governance, Adebayo argued that the administration had failed to promote fairness in appointments, recruitment and public spending, thereby deepening divisions across the country.

“The third abomination is injustice. As head of state, you are expected to unite the country. Instead, there is injustice in appointments, recruitment and expenditure,” he said.

He further accused the government of incompetence, claiming that it lacked effective control over key institutions and agencies.

“The fourth abomination is incompetence. The government appears disconnected and unable to effectively manage its own structures,” he added.

Questioning claims that President Tinubu inherited former President Muhammadu Buhari’s political support base, Adebayo argued that the electoral figures did not support such assertions.

“How can anyone claim to have inherited Buhari’s 12 million votes when, even with Buhari in office during the last election, the APC could not secure more than eight million votes?” he asked.

Adebayo also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of repeatedly frustrating the SDP through administrative actions and alleged political interference.

According to him, the party has been forced into multiple legal battles to defend its interests, including cases currently before the Supreme Court.

“We are probably the most sabotaged political party in the country. We have had to challenge INEC in court on several fronts and are still pursuing legal remedies,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Adebayo said the SDP remains focused on its agenda of tackling poverty and insecurity while maintaining internal discipline and resisting external interference.

“Our slogan remains: farewell to poverty and insecurity,” he declared.

The SDP leader also promised a tougher security approach if elected president, assuring Nigerians that kidnappers would be swiftly tracked and prosecuted through a strengthened security architecture.

“When you go anywhere in Nigeria to kidnap anyone, you will not last 48 hours before you are caught,” Adebayo said.