Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has declared that Nigeria has yet to attain true democracy, insisting that what currently exists is merely civilian rule lacking the substance of democratic governance.

Speaking in Abuja after the Democracy Day celebrations, Adebayo argued that although Nigeria had enjoyed uninterrupted civilian administration since 1999, the country was still struggling with weak institutions, poor accountability, and declining public welfare.

He said the promise of democracy remained largely unfulfilled for many citizens, warning that worsening poverty and insecurity could deepen national instability if urgent reforms are not undertaken.

He also dismissed claims of ongoing reforms, arguing that policy changes had not translated into real structural improvement.

Adebayo further questioned the performance of the petroleum sector, noting that government-owned refineries remain largely ineffective despite repeated assurances of rehabilitation.

He criticised what he described as the widening gap between political leaders and citizens, insisting that effective governance requires continuous engagement with the public.

Adebayo called for constitutional reforms to guarantee the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that political actors should not influence the appointment of electoral officials.

He also advocated real-time transmission of election results to improve transparency and restore public confidence in the electoral process.

On security spending, he raised concerns over accountability, stressing that proper oversight is more critical than increased budget allocations.

Despite his criticisms, Adebayo maintained that Nigeria’s challenges remained solvable if leaders would adopt a more people-centred approach to governance.