Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has distanced the party from ongoing opposition coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He stated that the SDP does not believe elite political alliances are the answer to unseating the ruling party, emphasizing instead the need to mobilize Nigerians who have disengaged from the electoral process.
In a statement released by his media team, Adebayo argued that many coalition efforts lack credibility, discipline, and shared values.
“Strategic partners in an election are not necessarily politicians. The real partners are segments of society—those who have not been participating in the process,” he said.
He identified voter apathy as a major challenge, noting that a significant number of registered voters did not take part in the last general election.
According to him, any meaningful alliance should focus on engaging this inactive population rather than concentrating on power-sharing arrangements among political elites.
“If you want to build a coalition, you must locate the 80 per cent who stayed away and understand why they didn’t vote,” he added.
Adebayo also expressed doubts about current coalition efforts, warning that aligning with individuals lacking accountability could weaken public confidence.
He revealed that while the SDP has held discussions with some political parties, many of the talks broke down due to internal crises within those groups.
He explained that the party is instead pursuing what he described as a “civic coalition,” involving grassroots organisations, professional groups, and ordinary citizens.
“Our approach is to encourage civic groups and everyday Nigerians to become actively involved,” he said.
He added that formal political alliances may only become feasible after party primaries.
Adebayo maintained that the SDP’s goal goes beyond winning elections, stressing the importance of governance rooted in accountability and strong principles.
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