Nigeria: 2027 - I Know Tinubu's Mistakes, I Won't Blame Him When I Become President - Adebayo

What the report says

Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, said he is aware of what he sees as the shortcomings of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, but would not use a future presidency to blame the incumbent for Nigeria’s problems. The remarks, reported by Vanguard and distributed by AllAfrica, were made during an interview on TVC’s Politics On Sunday and come as attention begins to build around the 2027 election cycle.

Adebayo said any new president would inherit both the gains and the liabilities of the outgoing government. He argued that the office of president comes with responsibility for existing institutions, infrastructure and policy choices, and that governance should continue rather than be dominated by blame-shifting. In the interview, he said he understood the country’s difficult economic and political conditions and was still determined to run.

He also claimed to know many of the areas where he believes the Tinubu administration has fallen short, while maintaining that this would not change his approach if he wins office. The comments place Adebayo in the broader debate over Nigeria’s economy, public services and succession politics. More generally, in Nigerian politics, opposition figures often use interviews and media appearances to outline their positions well ahead of elections, especially when discussing how they would handle inherited challenges.