adsFresh from emerging as the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party for the 2027 general election, Adewole Adebayo sets out a sharply defined political and economic agenda centred on social welfare, education reform, and institutional accountability. In this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE-KORIEOCHA, Adebayo reflects on his emergence as the SDP flag bearer, dismisses concerns about internal divisions within the party, and insists that legal processes must take their course in ongoing disputes involving party officials. He also responds to allegations of political infiltration and state-backed destabilisation of opposition parties, while outlining what he describes as the SDP’s “kitchen table politics” — a governance philosophy focused on everyday survival issues such as food, transport, healthcare, jobs, and education. Adebayo does not spare the ruling All Progressives Congress in his criticism, accusing it of weakening institutions, lowering educational standards, and prioritising electoral advantage over governance outcomes. From his controversial description of student loans as “a crime,” to his warning that poor education policy is producing unemployable youth, Adebayo presents a confrontational but structured critique of Nigeria’s current direction — and positions the SDP as a disciplined ideological alternative ahead of the next general election. Excerpts: