SDP National Chair Disowns Adebayo as Presidential Candidate, Reacts to Failed Plan to Hijack Party

Ajouté : 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]What have I have you said to the so-called faction?

[00:00:03]You know, faction is a media creation largely.

[00:00:06]We are political actors that have evolved over a period of time.

[00:00:10]We are used to this game. We are used to external forces putting everything humanly possible to distract party that have come off it with capacity to drive the system.

[00:00:22]And I'm happy that uh the day I was to resume here, you have seen the drama that took place simply because one individual wanted to perpetuate himself as a presidential candidate of the party funding all these distractions here and there. The whole ultimate aim is for him to emerge as a presidential candidate.

[00:00:40]And uh I'm happy also to say that uh I saw them attacking INEC.

[00:00:46]Uh which means INEC have told them that what they are doing is not in line. It's not in consonant with the Electoral Act as amended 20 uh 26. And I've monitored it.

[00:00:59]And I've seen that it's a violation of the 2026 Electoral Act. So, for me, I'm not bothered about it uh for an inch because our program is on. It's part of what we are discussing for our congresses and convention coming up in Abuja. So, we will not be distracted. A legitimate presidential candidate will emerge in SDP. People are buying their forms. We'll conduct a very transparent uh convention which will be covered live by almost all of you. Just the one we did the last convention 2022. Almost all the five media houses covered it live.

[00:01:34]It will be transparent. A vote will be casted to uh solidify it. People that were elected because that's what they what that's what the the act have said.

[00:01:44]Uh I also saw other parties that have done their own that have followed the rules. For instance, uh even the margin as a chairman, there will be a vote to consolidate that. Otherwise, uh it will still be like uh before where this could be arise through just normal mentioning of somebody without the delegates casting votes to consolidate those votes. So it's normal SDP is a force to reckon with and naturally people will from outside will try to influence it. For your information, I'm sure you know it was a state that sponsored that convention, gave them all the accommodations uh mob people on the streets, put them in the the place simply because they are seeking for sort of alliance because somebody want to be a vice presidential candidate to someone. So it's a sort of alliance.

[00:02:36]There's another party that went there also calling himself chairman of I think AA AA party. So it's a sort of a kangaroo arrangement trying to showcase that they're working towards some sort of alliance. So I don't know how alliance can be in the convention. Since I've not fused into the into the SDP. But for us and you know my record, I'm a very focused person. I'm result-oriented.

[00:03:03]We piloted this party, won election decently without any dispute. We'll do the same.

[00:03:09]Parties usually that are good and strong, they are flexible in their policies and programs to navigate challenges of modern times. So there are challenges of this time that we are facing amendment of the electoral act 2022 which is very very very difficult and party will be smart to deal with it otherwise there will be a lot of litigations.

[00:03:32]Wow.

[00:03:33]How do you handle the implications?

[00:03:36]There's no implication. Because with today's action, at least they want to create a faction or maybe by the time your party decide to present the presidential candidate, then it will look as if there are two presidential candidate from a party. How will you handle this considering the new electoral act and with a short period before the 2027 elections? The new electoral act said that INEC shall shall monitor every activities of political parties.

[00:04:09]21 days notice is compulsory.

[00:04:13]So, I'm sure INEC will be there.

[00:04:15]The law wasn't stupid by saying that INEC shall before it was may.

[00:04:19]Now it is shall.

[00:04:21]So, which means it is within the purview and powers of INEC to decide whether you comply with the process or not.

[00:04:28]So, it is INEC that will eventually uh determine whether they follow process or not. If they follow the process, you will see INEC responding to them. If they are not, you will see INEC uh neglecting them. We have seen similar things if you could remember Oyo incidents, the conventions, and other issues. Uh when INEC did not uh quite invalidate the whole thing. So, INEC is an institution and INEC was established by law to register parties and regulate the behaviors of political parties. And and and our constitution is very clear.

[00:04:59]Chairman preside over all party activities. It's compulsory that the chairman must chair an NWC, must chair NEC, must chair convention. But what I saw, they appointed one Dr. Bugaje to be the chairman of the convention, which I'm sure is not even a member of the party.

[00:05:17]So, a lot of funny things happened which I believe is okay.

[00:05:21]When when people are desperate, you can see a lot of things happening. We are not. We are experienced people. We are used to turbulence.

[00:05:28]And uh you can see we are very stable.

[00:05:30]Okay, you see on the INEC portal uh Iyorchia Ayu is still the national chairman and is on the side of this very function.

[00:05:39]How do you react? Which is not a problem. We are having our We are having our NEC and our convention.

[00:05:44]That will determine the leadership of the party very clearly and very decisively. And there will be no problem in terms of transacting our party engagements with the where we think time frame