Prince Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 election, said that Nigeria is yet to attain true democracy.
He insisted that the country is still operating under what he described as “civilian rule” rather than a full democratic system.
Speaking during an interview with newsmen following the country’s Democracy Day celebration, Adebayo argued that while Nigeria has sustained uninterrupted civilian governance since 1999, democratic values such as accountability, rule of law, credible elections, and citizens’ welfare remain weak.
According to him, the nation’s challenges have worsened over the years, despite political transitions.
“Since 1993, only two things have changed — our problems have become bigger, and our democratic space has become smaller,” he said.
The SDP chieftain warned that worsening poverty and insecurity could escalate into instability if urgent measures are not taken.
“Poverty has grown and given birth to insecurity. If we fail to address both, they may eventually give rise to instability, revolution, or even genocide,” Adebayo stated.
This comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Democracy Day speech, said Nigerians should not lose hope with the country despite numerous challenges.
