Mar 30 2026

According to a report by Vanguard, on Monday March 30, 2026, Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has declared that his ambition for the 2027 presidency is tied to securing a massive popular mandate rather than a marginal win.

The SDP leader emphasized that the next Nigerian president must lead with a deep-rooted connection to the citizenry.

Adebayo explicitly stated that he does not wish to govern with a narrow slice of the electorate, referencing the roughly 8.7 million votes that decided the 2023 contest.

Instead, he has set his sights on a historic 40-million-vote threshold to ensure unquestionable national legitimacy.

Adebayo argued that the challenges facing Nigeria require a leader who is backed by a broad consensus.

He criticized the trend of low voter turnout, noting that a president elected by a small fraction of nearly 100 million registered voters lacks the necessary "spiritual and political" mandate to drive radical change.

"The next person who wants to be president has to have a deeper connection to the people, has to have substantial participation of the voters," Adebayo stated. "I want to be president with at least 40 million votes. I don’t want to be president with 8 million votes."

The legal practitioner and politician suggested that the goal of 40 million votes is achievable if the opposition can inspire the millions of dormant voters who stayed home during previous cycles.

Adebayo’s stance serves as a challenge to fellow opposition leaders, suggesting that the path to victory in 2027 must involve expanding the voter base rather than just shuffling existing political figures.

"If you have a popular mandate, you have the courage to make the hard decisions," Adebayo added. "When you are elected by only 8 million people in a country of 200 million, you are always looking over your shoulder.

Naija news channel