Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo has urged President Bola Tinubu to step down. He insists Nigerians need relief from the current administration. Adebayo made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
His comments followed Tinubu’s decision to reduce his physical participation in campaigns ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The SDP candidate questioned the President’s ability to govern effectively if he could not handle the demands of campaigning.
Adebayo Questions Tinubu’s Leadership
Tinubu announced his decision while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja. He urged party members to take the APC’s message to Nigerians across states and local government areas. Meanwhile, he planned to focus on governance. However, Adebayo criticised the decision and described Tinubu as a “president in absentia.”
“Nigeria is too complex, too dynamic, and currently too distressed to be governed by remote control,” he said.
The SDP candidate also accused Tinubu of failing to reassure Nigerians during critical moments. He cited alleged prolonged medical trips, foreign visits during important economic decisions, and silence during regional protests. Adebayo argued that the country needed a visible leader who could address citizens’ concerns directly.
“We have seen repeated instances where the President is visibly missing when the country needs reassurance.
“From unannounced foreign trips during critical economic decisions to his complete silence during widespread regional protests, he has consistently acted like a president in absentia. If you are too tired to campaign, you are too weak to govern.”
The SDP Candidate Links Tinubu’s Decision to Economic Hardship
Adebayo also claimed Tinubu wanted to avoid campaign appearances because he feared public anger. He blamed the administration’s economic policies for worsening hardship across the country. He specifically mentioned fuel subsidy removal, soaring inflation, and naira instability.
“The excuse of bowing out of the 2027 campaign is a cowardly smokescreen. The truth is that the President is terrified of the Nigerian people,” he stated.
According to Adebayo, the economic situation has made it difficult for families to cope. He claimed Tinubu was unwilling to face voters because of their frustration with his policies.
“He knows the pain his bad policies have inflicted on families. He is hiding because he cannot face public anger, and he knows any appearance on a campaign trail will be met with collective booing of a betrayed populace,” he added.
‘Let This Country Breathe’
The SDP presidential candidate urged Tinubu to put Nigeria’s interests above his political ambitions. He also called on the government to address public concerns about the President’s fitness to lead for the remainder of his tenure.
“It is time to face reality: step aside, go home, and let this country breathe,” Adebayo said.
