Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adebayo Adewole has described the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election as a strategic effort to challenge what he called a “highly experienced and highly desperate political party.”
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS, Adewole said the coalition was not about individual ambitions but about presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative.
Adewole explained that the coalition was designed to convince Nigerians that opposition politicians were willing to make sacrifices in the national interest.
“It is more of a strategic campaign to wrest power from a highly experienced and highly desperate political party,” he said.
He added that the coalition was not primarily about securing presidential tickets but about demonstrating unity. “What we need to signal is that these politicians are not about personal ambitions,” he said.
Consensus Candidate And Party Cooperation
Adewole said opposition parties were working toward a single presidential candidate but clarified that no aspirant should be described as stepping down for another. Instead, he said politicians could step aside if necessary to facilitate consensus.
“Nobody is stepping down because all of us are on the ground. You are only stepping aside to not obstruct the process of arriving at the national consensus,” he explained.
He acknowledged that the SDP had initially recommended him as its preferred candidate but said the eventual consensus candidate could emerge from another party.
“If the candidature does not necessarily go to me, we are not going to leave the alliance,” he said.
Tackling Poverty, Insecurity And Electoral Reforms
Adewole emphasised that poverty and insecurity must be central issues for the coalition. “One must agree that the point of poverty and insecurity is not negotiable,” he said. He argued that Nigerians needed leaders committed to addressing these challenges.
He also called for cooperation on electoral reforms, particularly strengthening the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We can all work together with our law enforcement so that we work for the law and ensure that the law is upheld, not the wishes of the government of the day,” he said.
Managing Policy Differences
Adewole acknowledged disagreements among opposition parties on issues such as fuel subsidy but said such differences should not derail the coalition. He argued that technical teams could resolve disputes through detailed discussions.
“Minor arguments should not derail the coalition. The issue of subsidy is not what Nigerian people are going to decide an election upon,” he said.
He added that political parties must remain open to learning from feedback. “Any political party that is not teachable, that cannot learn from feedback, is another APC,” he said, noting that the SDP was consulting widely before launching its manifesto.
Strengthening Democracy And Building Trust
Adewole said the coalition was ultimately intended to strengthen democracy and give Nigerians confidence in the opposition.
“We are more interested to see that the process is one which can give Nigeria a sense of Eureka,” he said. He warned that the coalition must not become another failed political arrangement.
He urged opposition leaders to put the country ahead of personal ambition.
“We have a duty as a political class to communicate to the Nigerian people that we are not about personal ambition only. The ambition is for the good of the country,” he said.
Adewole concluded that the coalition was not a popularity contest but a strategic campaign to challenge the ruling party.
“If we in the SDP don’t believe in it, we will not even spend one minute of our time. We are sincere people and we don’t waste our time,” he said.
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