By Peter Adelowo
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has unveiled its 2027–2031 policy blueprint, promising to tackle poverty, insecurity and unemployment through improved security, productivity, infrastructure and accountable governance.
Presenting the blueprint in Abuja, SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the document represented a departure from what he described as politics of slogans, personal attacks and empty promises.
Adebayo challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publicly defend his administration’s record, particularly on security, electricity, CNG, subsidy savings and the management of public funds.
He said the SDP blueprint was designed as a practical roadmap and invited Nigerians to scrutinise, question and contribute to the proposals before implementation.
Adebayo promised that an SDP government would target 75,000 megawatts of electricity, establish four major refineries and 36 modular refineries, while encouraging private investment in the refining sector.
He also proposed a petrol price of about 200 naira per litre under the party’s economic framework, arguing that Nigerians should not pay international prices for fuel while earning significantly lower wages.
The SDP presidential candidate said four years was enough for a determined government to make significant changes, citing former Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande’s achievements in housing, education and transportation as an example.
Earlier, the party’s National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, said the blueprint was anchored on three pillars—security, productivity and prosperity—describing them as essential and interconnected elements of national development.
Gombe said security would involve both kinetic and non-kinetic measures, while productivity would focus on agriculture, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, technology, trade and employment.
He said prosperity must be reflected in the daily lives of Nigerians through food security, decent jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, housing, electricity and social protection.
The National Chairman stressed that accountability must become an integral part of governance, with performance contracts, monitoring, public reporting and evaluation of government programmes.
Vice-Presidential candidate, Professor Usman Bugaje, said Nigeria’s major challenge was leadership, not a lack of human and natural resources, stressing that Nigerians were excelling in various fields globally.
Bugaje said the blueprint would remain open to contributions and refinement, adding that its priorities included security, agricultural productivity and reducing the high cost of energy.
Chairman of the SDP State Chairmen Forum, Femi Olaniyi, pledged 100,000 posters and 37 billboards to support Adebayo’s presidential campaign, while charging state chairmen to take the blueprint to every state, local government and ward.
Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion and Afenifere representative, Oba Olaitan Adedapo, pledged support for Adebayo and recalled the social development programmes of the old Western Region, particularly free education, healthcare, housing and employment.
Prophet Isa El-Buba, who endorsed Adebayo, urged Nigerians to move beyond speeches to action, announcing plans to mobilise his grassroots networks across Kano and the North-Central states, while calling for credible candidates who command community support.
The event ended with a road show, which provided a major highlight as SDP supporters and party leaders took the campaign message beyond the venue, signalling the commencement of the party’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
