The sudden invasion of the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by security operatives on Thursday shortly after the presidential screening exercise of its former presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, caused pandemonium, with the latter accusing President Bola Tinubu of attempting to impose a “one-man-rule” on Nigeria.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the incident, which was said to have caused panic among party officials, supporters, and staff members, has further ruffled feathers especially in the camp of the opposition political parties which had been skeptical about the preparedness of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the presidency to provide a level playing field for all political players in the countdown to the 2027 general elections.
Adebayo pointedly accused President Tinubu’s government of attempting to intimidate opposition voices and frustrate internal democratic processes within the SDP.
Inside sources in the SDP hinted that Adebayo was at the SDP national secretariat for his presidential nomination screening exercise before policemen allegedly swooped on the premises in the early hours of Thursday.
Eyewitnesses said the sudden presence of security personnel created confusion around the secretariat as party members struggled to understand the motive behind the operation.
Speaking on the development, Adebayo alleged that the action was part of a coordinated plot aimed at disrupting the SDP’s presidential nomination process and preventing him from emerging as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
He accused President Tinubu of allegedly seeking to impose what he described as a “one-man rule” in Nigeria, insisting also that forces loyal to the presidency were behind the development at the party headquarters.
Adebayo specifically named James Faleke and Joash Amupitan among individuals he claimed had perfected plans to destabilise the party’s internal process and frustrate his ambition.
According to him, “President Tinubu, the autocrat, has sent his goons to invade the SDP National Secretariat a day after I 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.”
He suggested that the development was part of a wider attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the next presidential election.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force was yet to make an officially statement on its alleged operation at the SDP headquarters.