*Says it’s part of President Tinubu’s plots to foist a one-party state
Tension engulfed the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Thursday after security operatives stormed the party headquarters shortly after the screening exercise of the party’s former presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo.
Adebayo alleged that the action was part of a coordinated attempt to disrupt the SDP’s presidential nomination screening process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the move was orchestrated to frustrate his ambition of emerging as the party’s presidential candidate.
Speaking after the incident, Adebayo accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to impose “one-man rule” on the country, alleging that forces loyal to the presidency were behind the operation at the party secretariat.
The SDP chieftain specifically mentioned a close ally of President Tinubu and INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan as part of those he claimed, had perfected plans to destabilize the party’s internal process and prevent his emergence as flagbearer.
“President Tinubu the autocrat, has sent his goons to invade the SDP National Secretariat today, shortly after I had completed my presidential primary election screening.
“Tinubu wants one-man rule in Nigeria. We will defeat him. It is cowardly and not presidential for the President to be afraid of competition,” Adebayo said.
Sources within the party disclosed that Adebayo had visited the secretariat for his nomination screening before policemen reportedly swooped on the premises in the early hours of Thursday, creating panic among party officials and supporters.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the the Police Force, over the incident, but stern looking policemen were seen at Parakou Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, where the paery’s secretariat is located.
