The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has dismissed any possibility of a merger or alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday during a meeting with the state executive of the SDP, Adebayo reaffirmed the party’s independence and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians.
He was accompanied by former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung and the SDP chairmen from Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos states, among others.
Addressing speculations that the SDP was an appendage of the APC, Adebayo strongly refuted such claims.
“Maybe APC has appendicitis, they should go to the hospital to kill it. We are a strong party. We are older than any of the parties available. Our mission is clear: we are not in government with them.
“I led the party in the last election. I’m still standing here. I’m not a minister under Tinubu, all the State Chairman, the National Chairman are intact, National Secretary. So, we are standing on our own,” he said.
Adebayo also explained why the party avoids confrontational politics, emphasizing its intellectual approach to national issues.
“The reason people look down on us is because we don’t attack people to tackle issues, because our party is a party of intellect. We are the only party that’s a little to the left. Having been a little to the left since we came in 1989 we remain so.
“The problems of Nigeria can only be found with solutions on the left, which is that chapter two of the Constitution, invest money in education, in housing, in healthcare, good infrastructure, let Nigerians live what Chief Obafemi Awolowo called a life more abundant.”
He reiterated the party’s principles and its commitment to upholding the legacy of the late Chief MKO Abiola.
“Is there any kind of agreement between the two parties to make or to act together? Anybody who wants to join the SDP is welcome, except that you must learn our creed. We are for justice, and progress.
“As white as the horse is, so is our heart. We want the Nigerian people to regain what MKO Abiola promised.
“Abiola promised farewell to poverty.
“He sacrificed his life for it. So, anybody who wants to come to SDP must first ask himself, can you make the sacrifice Abiola made?”
Adebayo made it clear that while the party is open to new members, it will not accommodate individuals of questionable character.
“We are merging with the Nigerian people. You cannot be on the side of the poor and the side of big men at the same time. If anybody tells you: I’m a party that wants to help poor people and is hanging around with those who are oppressing the people, that person doesn’t know what you want. SDP is clearly on the side of the people,” he said.
During the meeting, the SDP chairman in Ogun State, Ola Williams, welcomed new members who share the party’s values and vision.
