The 2027 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo has called on President Bola Tinubu to step aside, saying Nigeria needs relief from the current administration.
Adebayo made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday in reaction to Tinubu’s plan to limit his participation in physical campaigns across some states ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The President had made the announcement during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, urging party members to take the APC message to Nigerians across states and local government areas while he continued to focus on governance.
Reacting, Adebayo argued that Tinubu’s stated intention to avoid the demands of physical campaigning raised questions about his ability to govern effectively.
In the statement signed by his campaign’s Chief Communications Adviser, Comrade Mark Adebayo, the SDP candidate described Tinubu as a “president in absentia,” insisting that the country required active and visible leadership.
“Nigeria is too complex, too dynamic, and currently too distressed to be governed by remote control,” Adebayo said.
He accused the President of repeatedly being absent at critical moments, citing what he described as extended medical trips presented as working visits, absences during national emergencies and the use of representatives to communicate government policies.
The SDP candidate said the President had failed to provide the reassurance Nigerians needed during difficult periods.
“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,” he said.
Adebayo further alleged that Tinubu’s decision to stay away from parts of the campaign trail was driven by fear of public reaction rather than political strategy.
“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 argued.
He linked the President’s alleged unpopularity to the effects of the administration’s economic policies, including the consequences of fuel subsidy removal, rising inflation and currency instability.
According to Adebayo, the economic difficulties facing households have made the President reluctant to engage directly with voters.
“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 said.
The SDP candidate also urged Tinubu to relinquish power, arguing that the country’s interests should take precedence over the administration’s political ambitions.
“It is time to face reality: step aside, go home, and let this country breathe,” Adebayo said.
He also urged the administration to put national interest ahead of political survival and be transparent about Tinubu’s capacity to lead for the remainder of his term.
