The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has dismissed proposals for a single six-year tenure for presidents and governors, describing the idea as a distraction from Nigeria’s more urgent challenges of electoral credibility and effective governance.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Adebayo argued that the country’s primary concern should be ensuring free, fair and credible elections that reflect the will of the people rather than debating the length of time elected officials spend in office.

His remarks come amid plans by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to sponsor a bill proposing a single six-year term for presidents and governors, a move aimed at allowing office holders focus on governance instead of re-election campaigns.

Adebayo maintained that the current four-year tenure system remains adequate if leaders emerge through transparent electoral processes. He stressed the need to eliminate electoral malpractice and strengthen democratic institutions to guarantee that voters determine election outcomes.

The SDP flag bearer also dismissed reports of parallel presidential candidates within his party, describing the development as a common occurrence in Nigerian politics and insisting that the SDP remains united. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adhere strictly to the law in handling such matters.

Calling for issue-based politics, Adebayo urged political parties to compete on policy ideas rather than identity politics and internal disputes. He argued that voters should focus on candidates’ programmes and governance plans when making electoral choices.

Reflecting on the 2023 presidential election, Adebayo said public attention was diverted by debates surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket and other political controversies instead of policy proposals. According to him, many of the economic challenges currently facing the country stem from policies that were outlined before the election but received little scrutiny.

He further argued that Nigeria’s electoral system does not always reflect the true will of the electorate, making it difficult to accurately assess the popularity and strength of political parties and candidates.

Adebayo said growing public dissatisfaction with current governance has increased demand for alternative political platforms, adding that the SDP’s positions on security, the economy, infrastructure, welfare and democratic governance continue to attract support across the country.

On fuel subsidy, the SDP candidate described its removal as a mistake, arguing that the government failed to address the underlying issues in the petroleum sector, particularly the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries and the expansion of domestic refining capacity.

He proposed a three-step approach that includes restoring the country’s refineries, reducing citizens’ dependence on petrol through improved public transportation and ensuring Nigeria produces more refined petroleum products than it consumes to stabilise prices.

Addressing insecurity, Adebayo accused the government of failing to effectively tackle kidnapping and other security threats. He blamed what he described as an over-centralised security structure, poor coordination among agencies and excessive political interference in security operations.

The SDP candidate ruled out negotiating with bandits if elected president, insisting that the government must not compromise with criminal groups or share its territorial integrity with them.

He also advocated greater independence for the police and other law enforcement agencies, arguing that security institutions should operate professionally without daily political control.

Adebayo urged Nigerians to prioritise security, competence and governance when voting, rather than ethnicity or financial inducements, stressing that only a government committed to protecting lives can effectively fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.

He called for informed political discourse based on data, analysis and a clear understanding of governance, insisting that effective leadership requires a strong grasp of how government institutions function.