The Social Democratic Party’s 2027 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to step aside, arguing that reports of the President’s intention to excuse himself from the 2027 campaign circuit raise questions about his ability to sustain the demands of leadership.

Adebayo, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his campaign’s Chief Communications Adviser, Comrade Mark Adebayo, urged Tinubu to “go home and let Nigeria breathe.”
He argued that Nigeria needed an active president capable of providing hands-on leadership amid mounting economic and social challenges.
The SDP candidate alleged that Tinubu’s reported absences from the country, handling of national emergencies, and reliance on representatives to communicate government policies had created a leadership vacuum.
“Nigeria is too complex, too dynamic, and currently too distressed to be governed by remote control,” Adebayo said.
He added, “If you are too tired to campaign, you are too weak to govern.”

Adebayo also alleged that the reported decision to stay away from the campaign trail reflected the President’s fear of facing public anger over his administration’s policies.
He cited the removal of the petrol subsidy, rising inflation and currency instability as issues he claimed had worsened living conditions and weakened public confidence in the administration.

“The excuse of bowing out of the 2027 campaign is a cowardly smokescreen,” he said.
“The truth is that the President is terrified of the Nigerian people. He knows the pain his bad policies have inflicted on families across this country.”

The SDP candidate further claimed that Tinubu risked facing public disapproval if he appeared at campaign rallies ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He called on the Federal Government to prioritise national interest over political considerations and provide transparency about the President’s capacity to continue directing the country’s affairs.