Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has accused President Bola Tinubu of promoting conflict of interest in government through alleged ties between public contracts and private business relationships.

Speaking during a televised interview, Adebayo alleged that the President openly acknowledged awarding contracts to associates with whom he has business interests, describing the development as a serious breach of accountability standards.

According to the SDP chieftain, such actions would attract severe political consequences in countries with stronger institutional oversight.

He argued that Nigeria’s governance system was being undermined by political office holders who allegedly maintain business interests with individuals and companies benefiting from government contracts.

Adebayo said transparency and accountability in public procurement had deteriorated under the current administration, adding that public officials should not be directly or indirectly involved in businesses linked to government projects.

The former presidential candidate also alleged that government spending under the Tinubu administration lacked proper accountability, claiming that large sums of public funds had been expended without adequate disclosure on project implementation.

Citing constitutional provisions on public finance management, Adebayo insisted that all government revenue and expenditure must comply with due process and existing legal frameworks.

He further linked the alleged procurement irregularities to what he described as broader governance failures that have contributed to corruption, economic hardship and declining living standards across the country.

Adebayo said the SDP would pursue stricter accountability measures and reforms in public finance management if elected into office in the 2027 general elections.

The SDP candidate also renewed his criticism of the administration’s economic policies, maintaining that decisions taken since 2023 had weakened the purchasing power of Nigerians and worsened living conditions.

According to him, many citizens now struggle to sustain themselves through legitimate income because of rising inflation and economic pressure.

He said an SDP-led government would prioritise constitutional governance, transparency in public spending, healthcare, education and policies aimed at restoring economic stability and improving citizens’ welfare.