Speaking during a television programme, Adebayo argued that the country’s democratic crisis is rooted not in the length of time elected officials spend in office, but in whether elections genuinely reflect the will of the people.
According to him, restoring public confidence in the electoral process should take precedence over constitutional debates on tenure.
“The issue is not whether leaders spend four years or six years in office. The issue is whether the system works and whether voters actually decide who governs,” he said.
The SDP presidential hopeful said discussions ahead of the 2027 elections should focus on strengthening democratic institutions and eliminating electoral manipulation rather than pursuing tenure reforms.
Referencing the significance of June 12 in Nigeria’s democratic history, Adebayo called for what he described as the final defeat of election rigging and political interference in the electoral process.
He also dismissed concerns over internal developments within the SDP, insisting that the party remained united and focused on presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative built on constitutional governance, economic recovery, social welfare and security reform.
According to him, previous elections were dominated by identity politics rather than policy debates, preventing voters from critically assessing competing visions for the country.
Adebayo maintained that the SDP’s political philosophy rejects vote-buying, ethnic mobilisation and religious appeals, arguing that sustainable governance can only emerge from issue-based politics.
“Our belief is that good politics is the only gateway to good governance, and good governance remains the only lasting solution to Nigeria’s problems,” he said.
On the economy, the SDP leader renewed his criticism of the removal of fuel subsidy, saying the policy was implemented without addressing critical structural challenges in refining, transportation and energy supply.
While clarifying that he would not simply return to the previous subsidy regime, Adebayo said any reform must be accompanied by measures that protect citizens from severe economic shocks.
He proposed the rehabilitation of domestic refineries, expansion of mass transit systems and policies aimed at reducing the dependence of low-income Nigerians on expensive fuel consumption.
Turning to security, Adebayo argued that Nigeria possesses sufficient institutional capacity to defeat criminal gangs, kidnappers and terrorists if existing structures are effectively coordinated and allowed to function without political interference.
“There is no terrorist or kidnapper capable of overwhelming the Nigerian state. The issue is whether government chooses to act,” he said.
The SDP chieftain blamed persistent insecurity on weak implementation, poor prioritisation and an over-centralised security architecture.
He called for greater operational independence for law enforcement agencies and reforms that would enable security institutions to act on intelligence and constitutional mandates rather than political directives.
Adebayo also defended the importance of policy conversations in governance, rejecting suggestions that opposition politicians underestimate the complexities of leadership.
“Talk is not cheap. Senseless talk is cheap. Serious policy requires thinking, data and understanding how government works,” he said.
With political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gradually gathering momentum, Adebayo said his campaign would continue to focus on electoral integrity, constitutional governance, economic restructuring and public safety as the defining issues facing the country.