2027: SDP presidential candidate, Adebayo, in his Independence Day speech warns INEC

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has delivered an Independence Day commemorative message to Nigerians and sent a warning message to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In his message contained in his statement on Wednesday, Adebayo warned INEC against technical failures during the 2027 elections, and urged Nigerians to reject electoral malpractices and vote trading.

In a statement signed by the Head of the Presidential Campaign Media and Communications Directorate, Mark Adebayo, the SDP candidate also promised that his government would tackle poverty and insecurity within four years if elected.

Adebayo alleged that electoral corruption had undermined Nigeria’s democracy and criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for their handling of the country.

He said, “History has shown us that when you steal the vote, you steal the fate of the nation. Election fraud is not a victimless political game. It is a violent attack on the sovereignty of citizens.

“This puts in place illegitimate leaders who feel they have no accountability to society. This lack of accountability explains why our hospitals are still damaged, our schools are destroyed, and our economy is in shambles. Bad governance is the direct and toxic fruit of fraudulent elections.”

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Adebayo also accused the APC-led government of adopting what he described as an anti-democratic approach to governance.

He accused poverty of being used to influence voters and criticized what he described as economic policies implemented without adequate consideration for citizens.

“The way the APC is ruling this country is, to a large extent, completely anti-democratic,” he said.

“We see poverty as a weapon, where people are deliberately impoverished so they can be bought at cheap prices at the polling stations. Economic policies are implemented without human empathy.

“Dissent is suppressed, and the judiciary is constantly subject to political influence. This is not the democracy our heroes fought for; it is a civil autocracy masquerading as a republic.”

On the 2027 elections, Adebayo warned INEC against what he said were possible technical failures in the management and publication of election results.

“This is a stark warning to INEC that there is no room for ‘disruption’ in 2027,” he said.

“Nigerians are wiser, hungrier and more determined than ever before. It is important to note today that INEC’s excuse of a ‘technical error’ in 2027 is completely unacceptable.

“We will not accept the deliberate closure of portals for viewing results, nor will we tolerate sudden electronic failures that only seem to occur when the ruling party is losing.”

He said INEC had enough time to prepare for the elections and argued that any failure in the implementation of election technology should attract attention.

“INEC has had years to prepare, and billions of Naira allocated for technology. Any failure by 2027 will not be seen as a mistake, but as a deliberate act of betrayal of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Adebayo also appealed to voters to reject inducement and manipulation during the election.

“As we commemorate 66 years of independence, let us remember that true freedom means choosing our own leaders without coercion, bribery or manipulation,” he said.

“Don’t sell your vote for a piece of bread today only to suffer for the next four years. Stand strong, protect your polling stations, demand transparency, and let us together save Nigeria from the hands of electoral predators in 2027.”