SDP's Adebayo Calls Six-Year Presidency Proposal a Distraction

The Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has rejected calls for a single six‑year term for presidents and governors, arguing that the debate distracts from Nigeria’s more urgent issues, especially electoral integrity and good governance.

Adebayo made the comments during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, responding to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele’s plan to sponsor a bill that would allow elected executives to serve only one six‑year term. Supporters of the proposal say it would enable leaders to focus on governance rather than campaigning for re‑election.

However, the SDP candidate maintained that the real challenge lies not in the length of office but in ensuring that the electoral process reliably reflects the will of the people.

“It’s a distraction. These are all idle talks. A six‑year term, a four‑year term—that’s not the problem. The problem is that you have to have a system that works,” Adebayo said.

He added that Nigeria should concentrate on constructing a political system where election outcomes genuinely represent voter intentions, rather than being swayed by manipulation or irregularities.

“You have to have a political system where the voter decides the winner, where nobody watches INEC as if you are watching a secret society, and where political parties raise ideas and raise new people,” he said.

Adebayo emphasized that electoral reform should take precedence over constitutional debates about tenure.

“So, my focus, as we are heading towards the future, is that we must, once and for all, kill the demon of rigged elections. 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’s what you do when you get there,” he stated.

The SDP flagbearer argued that the current constitutional arrangement is adequate if elections are free and credible.

“I think the present system of four years—and if you are good enough, you go for another four years—is good enough if the people who are actually going to the government are going there only by winning a free, fair, and credible election. We should focus on that now,” he added.

Addressing reports of parallel presidential candidates within the SDP, Adebayo downplayed concerns, describing the situation as a common feature of party politics.

“We are not bothered by that; it’s the normal staple. So, I think the burden is on INEC to try not to waste its time on that and to follow the law,” he said.

He also advocated for issue‑based politics, urging parties to compete on ideas, policies, and programmes rather than personal attacks or identity‑driven campaigns.

“What we can have is a set of political parties competing on a set of ideas, and the media moderating for all of us so that we can have equal hearing. Then, Nigerians can now decide to lay their bed the way they want to lay on it when the time comes,” Adebayo said.

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