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SDP presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo has unveiled an ambitious plan to tackle Nigeria’s security, economic and electricity challenges ahead of the 2027 election.
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Adebayo says Nigeria should target between 50,000MW and 75,000MW of electricity capacity by 2050, arguing that the country has outgrown its current power ambitions.
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He also promises full employment, greater transparency in public finances and stronger state and local government productivity.
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His proposals come alongside sharp criticism of the Tinubu administration’s economic management and allegations of government-enabled criminality.
August 13, (THEWILL) — Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has promised to radically overhaul Nigeria’s security, economic and energy architecture if elected in 2027, arguing that the country’s persistent crises are rooted in weak institutions, poor productivity and alleged government-enabled criminality.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists and members of the Middle-Belt Forum, Adebayo said his administration would restructure the armed forces to make them more responsive to communities while ending what he described as government sponsorship or enablement of criminal activity.
“What is sustaining criminality and violence in Nigeria is that it is either government sponsored or government enabled,” Adebayo said, adding that his administration would “stop tolerating criminality in government”.
On the economy, Adebayo launched a sharp attack on President Bola Tinubu’s economic management, accusing the administration of pursuing policies that fail to translate headline economic indicators into improved household welfare.
He argued that economic growth should ultimately be measured by the productive capacity of citizens, businesses and government enterprises, rather than statistics alone.
Adebayo proposed full employment, greater transparency in public revenue collection, stronger financial accountability and the separation of government officials from public contracting.
He also pledged to move economic production towards states and local governments, particularly agriculture and mining, while promising a “promotional tax regime” that would preserve living wages and encourage private investment.
The SDP candidate identified Nigeria’s mineral wealth as another major economic opportunity, claiming that mining in the Middle Belt could generate vastly more economic value than the country currently derives from petroleum. He also called for an end to what he described as the “criminalisation of mining”.
Adebayo raises Nigeria’s power ambition to 75,000MW
Adebayo’s most striking proposal, however, came on electricity when asked by THEWILL how he intends to revamp the energy and power sector.
He argued that Nigeria has outgrown the long-standing focus on 10,000 megawatts and said the country should target between 50,000MW and 75,000MW by 2050, powered by a mix of gas, solar and rehabilitated hydro infrastructure.
“At least Nigeria now, any presidential candidate who is not giving you a plan for 50,000 megawatts is behind time,” he said.
He further criticised the existing electricity market, alleging that politicians have captured tariff collection and calling for a restructuring of the distribution companies and energy procurement system.
On foreign policy, Adebayo said Nigeria would prioritise international partnerships that strengthen national security, education, technology and access to markets while better managing the country’s diaspora.
SDP chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, meanwhile, said the party was positioning itself for a credible 2027 election and urged the Middle Belt Forum to play a strategic role in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“My request for them from the Middle Belt is that as one of the key stakeholders in our country, we came to unveil our manifesto and the manifesto of the candidate to them, so as we move on together toward the rescue mission of our dear country.
“So, we take the Middle Belt Forum as a very strategic partner in the development and evolution of our democratic process toward a free, fair, and credible election in 2027.
“We are happy the way we were received by the Middle Belt, the agreement on us and the understanding of the presidential candidate and his policy programmes for the nation,” he said.
Segun Adeyemi serves as the Associate Editor of THEWILL Newspaper, leveraging more than ten years of editorial expertise and a proven track record in mainstream journalism.
