By MBACHU GODWIN Abuja
Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 2023 general elections and aspirant to the 2027 presidency, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has accused the presidency of plotting to frustrate the Social Democratic Party, SDP, from fielding candidate in the forthcoming election.
The national secretariat of the party, was yesterday invaded by security operatives shortly after the presidential screening exercise of Adebayo.
Adebayo alleged that the action was part of a coordinated attempt to disrupt the SDP’s presidential nomination process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the move was orchestrated to frustrate his ambition of emerging as the party’s presidential candidate.
Speaking after the incident, he accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to impose “one-man rule” on the country, alleging that forces loyal to the presidency were behind the operation at the party secretariat.
He alleged that Hon.James Faleke and Prof Joash Amupitan are among those he claimed had perfected plans to destabilize the party’s internal process and prevent his emergence as the SDP flag bearer.
“President Tinubu has sent his goons to invade the SDP National Secretariat a day after I completed my presidential primary election screening”, Adebayo said.
“Tinubu wants one-man rule in Nigeria. We will defeat him. It is cowardly and not presidential for the President to be afraid of competition”, he added.
Sources within the party disclosed that Adebayo had visited the secretariat for his nomination screening exercise before policemen reportedly swooped on the premises in the early hours of Thursday, creating panic among party officials and supporters.
As at the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the Presidency, the Nigeria Police Force, or the individuals named in the allegations.
