The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has identified the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, as one of the emerging political voices whose economic ideas deserve serious public attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

 

Ajaero made the remarks during an interview at the weekend while responding to questions on the economic positions of some of the leading political figures expected to play prominent roles in the 2027 election.

 

While discussing the economic philosophy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the NLC president drew attention to the positions of Adebayo and the Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, saying their ideas were worth considering.

 

“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.

 

The comments are significant against the backdrop of Ajaero’s assessment of the economic positions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.

 

According to him, the three politicians broadly subscribe to a similar market-oriented economic approach.

 

“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right,” he said.

 

Ajaero’s reference to Adebayo and Olawepo-Hashim suggested a distinction between their economic propositions and those of the three political figures he had grouped together, describing the ideas of the former as new positions worthy of engagement.

 

Adebayo, who is seeking the presidency on the platform of the SDP, has built his campaign around social democracy, productive enterprise and a stronger role for government in expanding economic opportunities for Nigerians.

 

His policy proposals emphasise increased domestic production, job creation, improved public services and measures aimed at reducing the cost of living.

 

The SDP candidate has also been critical of the country’s handling of fuel pricing, electricity, education, healthcare and unemployment, arguing that economic policies should be designed to improve the productive capacity of the country and the welfare of citizens.

 

In his recently published policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031, Adebayo proposed a system of measurable government delivery involving presidential performance monitoring, baseline assessments, quarterly milestones and corrective mechanisms.

 

The framework is aimed at strengthening accountability and ensuring that government programmes produce measurable results.