The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to personally attend the signing of the 2027 election peace accord.
Adebayo described Tinubu’s decision to send the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, as his representative as a wrong signal and questioned the President’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful electoral process in 2027.
Speaking in an interview, Adebayo said his decision to sign the accord reflected principles he had consistently upheld throughout his political campaigns, including avoiding hate speech, personality attacks, fake news, violence, vote buying and identity-based politics.
He said elections should be centred on issues and policies, arguing that genuine electoral peace could only be achieved when there is justice.
“Peace is impossible without justice,” Adebayo said, stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be allowed to operate independently and conduct free, fair and credible elections.
According to him, security agencies, including the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence Corps and the military, should remain politically neutral during elections.
Adebayo also promised that if elected president, he would pursue reforms aimed at making INEC more independent, including reviewing existing laws that give the executive significant influence over the electoral body.
Reacting specifically to Tinubu’s absence from the peace accord ceremony, Adebayo said the President should have attended personally given his position as the nation’s leader.
“Oh, please! This is an insult to the process,” he said, arguing that the SGF was not directly involved in the presidential election and that the Vice President could also have represented the President.
Adebayo further questioned why Tinubu, who is based in Abuja, could not attend an event he allegedly indicated he would participate in.
He said the President’s absence could send the wrong message to government officials and security agencies regarding the importance of peaceful elections.
The SDP candidate also dismissed comparisons between Tinubu’s absence and that of other presidential contenders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to him, the President bears a greater constitutional responsibility because he is the leader of the country, while other presidential candidates are seeking to occupy the office.
On INEC’s pledge to conduct free, fair and credible elections, Adebayo said Nigerians must help make that commitment a reality by participating actively in the electoral process.
He called on voters to reject vote buying and turn out in large numbers to exercise their franchise according to their conscience.
Adebayo said the SDP would focus its 2027 campaign on tackling poverty and insecurity, adding that the party’s manifesto would seek to address issues such as hunger, homelessness, healthcare, unemployment and access to quality education.
He maintained that Nigeria could only achieve lasting peace if elections were conducted transparently and citizens were allowed to freely choose their leaders.
Adebayo urged Tinubu to publicly explain his absence from the peace accord ceremony and demonstrate a stronger commitment to peaceful, free and credible elections ahead of 2027.
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