Tenure extension is not a concern; focus on delivering democracy dividends – SDP leader Adebayo

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo said that extending the tenure of the President and governors is not Nigeria’s problem; the real issue is delivering the dividends of democracy.

During an interview on Arise Television’s “Morning Show” on Wednesday, Adebayo urged the complete elimination of what he called the “demon that rigs elections” in Nigeria.

He insisted that the length of a president’s or governor’s term is not the problem, but the absence of a functioning 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.