The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has urged Nigerians to exercise their constitutional right to vote, cautioning against apathy or calls for boycotts that could undermine the nation’s democratic process.
Speaking during an appearance on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Wednesday, Adebayo stressed that active participation in elections remains central to ensuring accountability and fostering a government that reflects the people’s aspirations.
“When citizens abstain from voting, it is not the politicians who lose; it is the people themselves. SDP calls on every Nigerian to recognize the power they hold in their hands during elections, to reject calls for boycotts, and to ensure that their voices are part of the national conversation. True change is impossible without participation, and our party is dedicated to mobilizing Nigerians to exercise this fundamental right”, he said.
Against the hues and cry regarding debates about amendments in the Electoral Act and the crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had withdrawn recognition of the David Mark-led leadership, following a Court of Appeal ruling, leaving the party in disarray pending legal resolution, Adebayo insists that participation, not withdrawal remains the most effective tool for democratic change.
He warned that disengagement from the electoral process only strengthens entrenched political interests and allows politicians with questionable records to dominate the national space. According to him, democracy requires the active involvement of citizens, from voting to holding leaders accountable.
“I understand the cynicism many Nigerians feel. It is easy to be disillusioned when promises are broken, when corruption seems unchecked, or when government actions fail to meet expectations. But disengagement is not the solution.
“Refusing to vote or calling for a boycott only hands power back to the same individuals and systems that perpetuate failure. It is the people’s duty to reclaim the process, to ensure their votes are counted, and to demand accountability at every level of government,” he said.
Adebayo emphasized that voting is both a right and a civic responsibility, urging Nigerians to use the ballot as a tool for reforming governance and reshaping leadership.
“We cannot stop emphasizing the need for electoral laws to be constitutional, to be fair, and to be democratic. But the Nigerian people cannot boycott elections that will determine their fate.
“We will use their same election to solve all the problems. We should encourage our people to register en masse, register to vote, pay attention to the issues, and ensure that credible leaders emerge from their communities,” he added.
Adebayo nevertheless strongly criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that the government has failed to deliver on its promises in key areas such as security, employment, economic growth, and anti-corruption. He argued that the hardship faced by Nigerians reflects a leadership failure that must be addressed through democratic change.
“I would focus on the fact that the government is not governing well. It is not delivering the goods to the Nigerian people. The promises that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made, have not been kept.
“The vast majority of Nigerians don’t belong to any political party, and the government is failing them. Our focus in the SDP is to wake Nigerians up so that we come together and change the leadership of this country democratically.”
