Tension broke out at the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, on Thursday after security operatives reportedly stormed the party headquarters shortly after the presidential screening exercise of the party’s former presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo.
Adebayo alleged that the development was part of a coordinated attempt to disrupt the SDP’s presidential nomination process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the action was aimed at frustrating his ambition to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.
Speaking after the incident, Adebayo accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to impose what he described as “one-man rule” on Nigeria.
He alleged that forces loyal to the Presidency were behind the operation at the SDP secretariat.
The SDP chieftain also mentioned James Faleke and Joash Amupitan as among those he claimed had perfected plans to destabilise the party’s internal process and prevent his emergence as the party’s flagbearer.
“President Tinubu, the autocrat, has sent his goons to invade the SDP National Secretariat a day after I completed my presidential primary election screening,” Adebayo said.
“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,” he added.
Sources within the party said Adebayo had visited the secretariat for his nomination screening exercise before policemen reportedly stormed the premises in the early hours of Thursday, causing panic among party officials and supporters.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the Presidency, the Nigeria Police Force, or the individuals named in Adebayo’s allegations.
