The Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has said that tenure elongation for the President and governor; is not Nigeria’s problem but the delivery of dividends of democracy.

Fielding questions during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ on Wednesday, Adebayo called for the total elimination of what he described as the ‘demon that rigs elections’ in Nigeria.

He insisted that tenure elongation of the president or governors was not the problem but the lack of a functional system.

He said, “We need a political system where the voter decides the winner. My focus is on eliminating the demon that rigs elections once and for all.

“Six-year or four-year term is not the problem. The problem is that you have to have a system that works, a system where the voter decides the winner, where nobody watches INEC as if you are watching a secret society.

“And that political parties raise ideas and new people, so that when you go to a congress or political party, you go with high hope.

“So, my focus as we are heading towards June 12, is that we must once and for all kill the demon of election rigging. We must once and for all allow the voter to vote. So, the issue of how long you stay in power and all of that is irrelevant. It is what you do when you get there.

“So, I think the present system of four years, and if you are good enough, you go for another four years, that is if the people who are actually going to the government are going there only by winning free, fair, and credible elections,” he said.

The Kwankwasiyya Movement spokesperson and member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Habibu Mailemo, has cleared that there is no crisis in the party, insisting that attention is fully focused on preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Mailemo made this known during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, where he addressed concerns over alleged internal tensions and restructuring within the party.

According to him, what is happening in the party is normal political activities ahead of the elections, not a crisis.

“I think NDC, like any other party, is working very hard to ensure that credible candidates emerge that will lead the party into the 2027 general election,” he said.

He explained that disagreements and discussions within political parties are expected, especially during election periods.

“And I believe, like every other party, when there is contestation, naturally you are bound to hear issues here and there. But the party has mechanisms to absorb all these issues and move forward.”

Mailemo also dismissed fears that recent discussions around party authority and structure amount to a breakdown.

He stressed that the Kwankwasiyya Movement remains committed to party discipline and unity.

He said the movement is still studying recent pronouncements regarding party structure and internal arrangements.

He, however, maintained that the Kwankwasiyya Movement remains loyal and disciplined within the party structure.

“Kwankwasiyya is one of the most disciplined movements. Whatever party we are in, we will do all that is necessary to ensure its success,” Mailemo stated.

On allegations of internal conflict over candidate selection and primaries, he insisted that due process was followed across the country.

He said party primaries were conducted on the 29th of last month, alongside consensus arrangements that included all stakeholders.

“For example, primaries were held across the nation on the 29th. Processes were followed up to the latter,” he said. 

“Before that, there were consensus arrangements where nobody was excluded.”

Mailemo also explained that names of candidates who emerged through the process have already been submitted to the party leadership in line with electoral guidelines.

He stressed that Kwankwasiyya members remain committed to party rules and will not act outside established procedures.

“The deal breaker for Kwankwasiyya has always been bending the rules. We are law-abiding people, and we stick to regulations guiding the party and INEC.”

Mailemo said it is difficult to separate Kwankwasiyya members from other party members because of widespread alignment during the political process.

He added that even individuals who recently joined the party participated in the consensus arrangements and primaries without complaints.

“The process was transparent, and no one complained during or after the exercise,” he said.

He maintained that reports of crisis only emerged days after the primaries had been concluded.

The reported crisis in the Kano State chapter of the NDC is said to be linked to the non-release of the party’s primary election results.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has distanced himself from the series of protests that followed the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly primaries in Lagos, warning individuals against using his name to promote demonstrations or political agitation.

Obasa also rejected attempts to associate him with the growing wave of protests that have trailed the release of candidates’ lists for the party’s legislative primaries, describing efforts to hold him responsible as unfair and misleading.

His reaction comes after APC members from several local government areas, including Badagry, Mushin, Amuwo-Odofin, Eti-Osa, Somolu, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Oshodi-Isolo, staged a protest at the party’s secretariat on ACME Road in Ikeja on Tuesday, alleging irregularities in the conduct and outcome of the primaries.

The demonstration was the latest in a series of protests that have erupted across the state since the Lagos APC published the names of candidates said to have emerged from the primary elections.

Amid the controversy, messages circulated on WhatsApp alleging that Obasa had provided N2 billion to sponsor and coordinate the protests across different parts of the state.

Responding to the claims, the Speaker dismissed the allegations as false and unfounded, questioning the rationale behind linking him to the demonstrations.

“It is foolhardy, malicious, misleading and baseless for anybody to assume or imply that I will import or mobilise protesters from different local governments to the secretariat. To achieve what exactly?

“I am not a candidate in the disputed election, so why and how will I devote such an amount of money to organising protests?” he said.

Obasa further stressed that he remained committed to peace and unity within the APC, warning against attempts to drag his name into actions capable of creating division within the party.

“I am a peace-loving party man, and I abhor the use of my name and office for any form of illegality or to sow division within the party,” he added.

The Speaker reiterated his dedication to the stability and progress of the ruling party in Lagos, stating that his focus remains on promoting harmony and supporting the continued development of the state.

“My steadfast commitment remains the unity, peace, and progress of our great party and the people of Lagos State,” Obasa said.