The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to either take decisive action against terrorists or resign from office.
Adebayo made the statement on Tuesday at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025 held in Abuja.
The event, themed “Critical Constitutional Amendments for Credible Elections in 2027,” was organised by the National Consultative Front, Labour and Civil Society Front, in partnership with the Movement for Credible Elections.
According to Adebayo, the persistent killings and insecurity across Nigeria amount to genocide. He accused the federal government of failing in its primary responsibility of protecting citizens, alleging that funds meant for national security are being diverted.
“Let’s put fire to the feet of our government to protect us,” Adebayo said. “If your people are losing their lives in dozens, you’ve already failed the primary assignment of governance. The solution is simple—President Tinubu can either use the bullet to kill the terrorists or use the pen to resign.”
He lamented that insecurity in Nigeria has escalated to the point where both Christians and Muslims are being killed. Adebayo said he has personally supported victims by donating funds to rebuild churches and assist affected families.
He added that several ethnic leaders had confirmed to him that the violence was not one-sided, stressing that certain communities in the country are victims of genocide.
“We cannot deny that certain communities in this country are subjected to genocide,” he said. “I donated money to rebuild up to 50 churches and have comforted over a thousand families who lost loved ones.”
At the same summit, the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, represented by Muhammed Jamo Yusuf, urged stakeholders to confront issues such as voter apathy, logistical lapses, and the excessive influence of money and godfathers in Nigerian politics.
He noted that despite the high youth turnout in the last general election, challenges such as poor result transmission and electoral irregularities eroded public trust.
Governor Yusuf commended the organisers for their commitment and called for “honest hearts and strong determination” to reform Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also speaking, a university don and political analyst, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, urged Nigerians to prioritise national interest over politics and focus on practical solutions to address insecurity and governance challenges.
“It is crucial to focus on solutions and cooperation rather than being swayed by sensationalist narratives,” he said. “The need for tangible actions and investments to tackle insurgency and security threats cannot be overemphasised.”
