Fresh concerns over Nigeria’s democratic trajectory have emerged as former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, warned that the country risks sliding into a centralised, personality-driven system of governance rather than a conventional one-party state.
Adebayo sounded the alarm after a visit to violence-hit communities in Plateau State, where he said the scale of human suffering and breakdown of public trust reflects deeper governance failures. He described conditions in areas such as Angua Rukuba as “devastating,” noting that beyond headline-grabbing incidents, numerous killings continue across the country with little attention or response.
According to him, many communities have lost confidence in the state’s ability to protect them, with victims increasingly reluctant to report attacks. “People are beginning to question the humanity of fellow human beings,” he said, warning of a dangerous erosion of trust in public institutions.
Drawing from his engagements with victims, community leaders and security personnel, Adebayo identified serious gaps in coordination and response, arguing that while security agencies have the capacity to respond, they are constrained by weak leadership and inadequate support.
He also took aim at the federal government’s handling of crises, insisting that leadership requires visible presence and direct engagement with affected citizens, rather than what he described as distant or symbolic responses.
Amid questions about his political future, Adebayo confirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, maintaining that his recent interventions are driven by national concern rather than political calculation. “You can be a politician and still be a decent human being who mourns with those who are mourning,” he said.
On the state of opposition politics, he called for adherence to due process in resolving internal disputes, particularly within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressing that the courts remain the ultimate arbiter in such matters, especially where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is involved.
Adebayo, however, expressed concern over the weakening of opposition parties, warning that internal crises and lack of cohesion could undermine their ability to present a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
While dismissing fears of an emerging one-party system, he warned of what he described as a more insidious threat—a concentration of power around Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Such a trend, he argued, could weaken institutions, diminish internal party democracy and ultimately erode the foundations of governance.
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Adebayo linked low voter turnout to growing public disillusionment, saying many Nigerians feel excluded from the political process. He urged citizens not to disengage but to remain active in holding leaders accountable.
He also blamed the wave of defections and party instability on the collapse of ideological politics, noting that many politicians now operate without clear principles, switching allegiances for personal advantage.
“We need to reinvent the political class,” he said, warning that without systemic reform, the same actors will continue to dominate regardless of party labels.
On insecurity, Adebayo argued that structural reforms such as state policing would only succeed if anchored on credible leadership and accountability, insisting that Nigeria’s challenges are less about institutional design and more about the quality of those in charge.
“The problem is not the structure; it is leadership,” he said.