Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate for 2027, on Saturday rejected the federal student‑loan policy as unjust and unconstitutional.
He said education must be free, compulsory and high quality, and promised an SDP government would prioritise public schooling and social welfare.
Adebayo spoke to Vanguard and Naija News after his nomination, outlining his policy views and party strategy. He criticised current education changes and warned that loan schemes push young Nigerians into debt and undercut national development.
“Student loans are a crime,” he said when asked whether he would continue the policy if elected.
“Yes. It’s a crime against the constitution and against the people,” he added.
Backstory and context
Nigeria introduced student‑loan proposals amid fiscal strains and rising tertiary enrolment. Proponents say loans expand access where public funding falls short.
Critics argue loans shift responsibility from the state to individuals and deepen inequality.
Adebayo traced the problem to what he called deliberate lowering of standards and poor policy choices by recent governments.
He contrasted the loan policy with the free education enjoyed by earlier elites, noting lawmakers did not take loans for their studies.
“Why should students borrow money for education if education is supposed to be free, compulsory, and qualitative? The National Assembly members didn’t take loans for their own education. They enjoyed free education,” he said.
Adebayo promised the SDP would scrap student loans and expand investment in public education if elected in 2027.
He said the party would combine increased funding with institutional accountability and social programmes to protect vulnerable families.
“If you don’t invest in your people, you destroy your society. You will turn scientists into taxi drivers,” he said, warning that poor policy fuels unemployment and insecurity.
He described the SDP’s approach as “kitchen table politics” — policies focused on everyday needs like food, transport, healthcare, jobs and education.
“Without sounding too professorial, the SDP is the party that has solutions to your social problems. It’s a party meant for ordinary people,” he said.
Party Unity, Legal Processes and Allegations
On party unity and his emergence as his party’s flagbearer, Adebayo defended the SDP’s consensus nomination and rejected suggestions it would cause grudges.
“No, I don’t think so. The party understands three things. First, we are facing an incumbent government, so we cannot afford internal struggles. Second, we are fundamentally an ideological party, so it’s not about personality triumphs.”
On internal crises and legal cases involving party officials, Adebayo said courts must handle matters and people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“As a lawyer, what I can say is that someone is alleged to be involved in several amounts — maybe you’re mentioning just one — and the person has pleaded not guilty in a court of law.”
He condemned shielding suspects for political use and said accountability must follow the law. “Stealing money is not a joke. Breach of trust is not a joke.”
Allegations of Political Sabotage
Adebayo accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of infiltrating opposition parties to weaken them ahead of 2027.
“Yes, we are dealing with that. It is the desire of President Tinubu to be the only person in the race.” He linked such tactics to past episodes of ruling‑party pressure.
Adebayo said the SDP will run as an ideological alternative to the APC, prioritising policies that improve daily life rather than ethnic or regional calculations.
He dismissed the notion that both he and President Bola Tinubu come from the South‑West as a barrier to victory, saying voters care more about bread‑and‑butter issues.
“Without investment in education and social services, people will not judge leadership only by regional identity,” he said.
Adebayo is expected to unfold his manifesto soon on education, social‑spending proposals, and other sectors of national life.
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