2027: Adebayo only candidate to present comprehensive manifesto - Pro-democracy coalition

Ahead of the 2027 elections, a coalition of pro-democracy groups under the umbrella of CountryFirst Movement has announced that Social Democratic Party, SDP, flagbearer, Prince Adewole Adebayo, was the only presidential candidate that presented a comprehensive manifesto outlining his plans for the country and how to actualize them.

The pro-democracy coalition made the announcement at a press briefing on Thursday while backing the SDP candidate for the 2027 election.

Describing Adebayo as the candidate with the most comprehensive manifesto and a workable roadmap for addressing Nigeria’s challenges, the coalition explained that the endorsement followed “an extensive examination of the manifestos, policy proposals and implementation timelines presented by presidential candidates”.

Convener of the CountryFirst Movement, Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia, explained that the coalition undertook an assessment of the candidates’ preparedness and their capacity to deliver effective governance.

“The assessment was informed by the need to move Nigerian politics away from campaign promises without clear implementation strategies towards issue-based campaigns anchored on practical policies, measurable targets and timelines.

“The coalition had, since August 26, 2026, undertaken a campaign to challenge presidential candidates to present comprehensive manifestos detailing their plans for the country.

“Out of 18 presidential candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the coalition received one full and comprehensive manifesto, while 10 others submitted briefs containing graphics and summaries of their proposed programmes without sufficient details or implementation timelines,” Nwaokobia said.

The coalition expressed concern that many political parties had become mere vehicles for electoral contests rather than ideological platforms with clearly defined visions and policy directions.

It argued that Nigeria’s recurring leadership challenges could be addressed through a political system that prioritises ideological consistency, policy development and measurable commitments to national development.

The coalition highlighted the SDP’s historical connection with the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale, MKO, Abiola, whose 1993 presidential campaign carried the message, ‘Farewell to Poverty’. They noted that Adebayo’s campaign message, ‘Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity’, reflected the party’s ideological foundation and its commitment to addressing poverty, insecurity and other pressing national challenges.

According to the coalition, Adebayo’s 117-page printed manifesto, with a 138-page electronic version, provides a comprehensive framework for moving Nigeria from poverty to prosperity, insecurity to safety, and hardship to an improved quality of life.

The manifesto outlines 12 presidential priorities, including securing the country, ensuring food security, improving electricity supply, providing affordable energy, creating jobs, supporting enterprise, expanding education and skills development, improving healthcare, developing infrastructure, promoting innovation, strengthening transparency and accountability, and building a united federation.

The document also contains a four-year delivery framework detailing how the proposed administration intends to implement its policies and measure progress.

Under the framework, the first 100 days would focus on establishing a Presidential Delivery and Performance Office, issuing compliance and results directives to ministries, departments and agencies, conducting baseline audits across critical sectors, identifying priority projects and introducing procurement transparency measures.

The coalition noted that Adebayo’s proposed governance framework draws significantly from Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which contains the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

“We present to Nigerians the candidate with a clear blueprint and a workable programme for a new Nigeria,” the coalition declared, while urging political parties to prioritise the publication of detailed manifestos before inaugurating their presidential campaign councils. It insisted that campaign structures should be built around clearly articulated policy commitments.

In the same vein, the coalition warned that without a fundamental change in the country’s political culture, Nigerians risked continuing in a cycle of unprepared leadership and disappointing governance outcomes.

The endorsement was jointly signed by Nwaokobia, Convener of the CountryFirst Movement; Dabiraoluwa H. Adeyinka, Coordinator of Power in the Streets Movement, PITS; Alhaji Musa Isah of the Forum of North West Progressives; Obinna Okeke, Organising Secretary of the CountryFirst Movement; Fred Uke of the United Middlebelt Forum; Bernice Adeyemi of the South South Peoples Forum; and Ayegba Iyaji of the National Rescue Movement, North Central.

Describing Adebayo’s manifesto as a roadmap towards a new Nigeria, the coalition expressed hope that his emergence as President would usher in a new era of prosperity, security, accountability and inclusive national development.