The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Adewole Adebayo, has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over its approach to governance and the selection of cabinet members.

Adebayo made the remarks on Thursday while speaking at the Middle Belt Forum.

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The convention, held at the Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi, drew party leaders, elected officials, governorship candidates, lawmakers and delegates from across the country.

Addressing delegates after the convention, Makinde said the opposition must work together to present Nigerians with a credible alternative to the current administration.

“As I said during the Ibadan Declaration in April this year, the presence of credible opposition is what sustains democracy,” Makinde said.

“Our new leadership must be ready to work with other opposition parties to ensure that we give Nigerians a credible alternative in the 2027 general election.”

He said the forthcoming election should be defined by measurable outcomes rather than campaign slogans and political announcements.

“The question before Nigeria in 2027 should not simply be, ‘What has government done?’ It should be, ‘What has changed for Nigerians?’” he said.

Makinde argued that governance should be judged by improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens, including access to jobs, education, healthcare, food security and public safety.

“When our mothers go to the market, they don’t experience economic policy as a statistic. They experience it in what their money can buy: how much rice, how much beans, how much garri can they take home,” he said.

“The young graduate does not experience job creation policy through a press statement. He experiences it through whether he can find productive work and build an independent life for himself and his loved ones.

“The farmer does not judge agricultural policy by the size of government programmes. He judges it by his productivity, his access to markets, and whether farming leaves him better or worse.”

He said the opposition had a responsibility to present evidence-based records and practical solutions to the country’s challenges.

“We must talk about an economy that moves over 140 million Nigerians currently living in poverty towards prosperity. We must talk about creating productive jobs and opportunities for our young people.

“We must talk about education that prepares our children for the economy they will inherit, healthcare that people can access, and security that protects Nigerians wherever they live,” he added.

Makinde also advocated greater devolution of powers, saying Nigeria could not achieve its full potential when decisions that should be taken in states and local communities were concentrated in Abuja.

“We need a federation in which more decisions and resources are brought closer to the people, accompanied by greater accountability for results,” he said.

He further urged political actors to restore trust in governance by ensuring that campaign promises translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.

“Nigerians must be able to believe that when leaders make commitments, those commitments must mean something. That is a different kind of politics, and that is the type of politics that APM represents,” Makinde said.

Earlier, Dantalle, in his acceptance speech, pledged to strengthen the party’s national structure, expand its membership base, deepen internal democracy and intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He described the renewed mandate as “a solemn responsibility and a renewed call to service”, assuring delegates that the party would emerge as a formidable national political movement capable of providing a credible alternative to Nigerians.

“Our manifesto remains our social contract with the Nigerian people. It embodies our vision for a better Nigeria and places the national interest above narrow personal and sectional interests,” Dantalle said.

In his remarks, the Bauchi governor expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work with the party leadership to reposition the platform for national relevance ahead of the 2027 elections.

The convention elected other members of the National Working Committee, including Chika Illechukwu as Deputy National Chairman; Ovadeyi Ayodele Adebayo as National Secretary; Bashir Bala as Assistant National Secretary; Suffiyanu Adamu as Vice Chairman (North-West); Hajia Aishetu Suleiman Jaji as Vice Chairman (North-East); Osamuede Igbineweka as Vice Chairman (South); and Barr. Boluwaji Peter Oloro as Vice Chairman (South-West).

Others are Mohammed Musa Aka as Vice Chairman (North-Central); Hafsat M.B. Usman as National Women Leader; Barr. Okpe Queen Ovibo as Deputy National Women Leader; Yusuf M. Abubakar as Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Victoria Momoh as National Treasurer; Zaavalo Badom as National Financial Secretary; Labaran Yunusa as National Public Relations Officer; and Simon C. Ekwe as Deputy National Public Relations Officer.

The remaining officers are Abdulkarim Okolo as Deputy National Public Relations Officer; Hamza Koshe Akuyam as National Organising Secretary; Ajike Ifunnanya Mercy as Assistant National Organising Secretary; Aisha A.A. Abdullahi as National Welfare Officer; Kalu Njoku as Assistant National Welfare Officer; Yahaya Amina Mama as National Youth Leader; Hadiza Adamu as National Legal Adviser; Hon. Rita Orji as Ex-Officio (North-East); Bature Ruth Rueben as Ex-Officio (North-West); Salisu Mohammed as Ex-Officio (North-Central); and Yusuf Abdulkarim as an ex-officio member.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Yilwatda Nentawe, has expressed confidence that the party will emerge victorious in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

Nentawe said this in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday while reflecting on the party’s mega rally in support of its governorship candidate in the state.

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