Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has said that poor leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains Nigeria’s biggest challenge as residents prepare for the Federal Capital Territory area council elections scheduled for Saturday.
He made the remarks on Thursday during an event in Abuja.
Adebayo stated that the country’s difficulties stem from what he described as mismanagement over the past two years.
According to him, national resources have not been properly handled, and this has affected the welfare of citizens. He added that despite these challenges, Nigerians still have their voice and the ability to demand better governance.
He pointed to conditions in public institutions, including health facilities, as signs of ineffective leadership. He also raised concerns about the involvement of foreign contractors in projects that, in his view, do not deliver enough benefits to local communities.
Adebayo maintained that government should serve the people and not the other way round.
The former presidential candidate also urged residents of the FCT to participate in the upcoming poll and ensure that their votes are protected. He called for transparency in the electoral process, including the electronic transmission of results.
In the same vein, the National Chairman of the SDP, Professor Abubakar Gombe, appealed to voters to choose candidates based on competence, character and capacity to lead. He encouraged residents to turn out in large numbers for the election.
Meanwhile, the SDP candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council, Simon Obinna, said the city centre belongs to all residents, whether indigenes or non-indigenes.
He stated that the council should be managed in a way that promotes fairness, equal opportunity and inclusiveness for everyone living in the area.