2027: CountryFirst Movement, Pro-Democracy Groups Endorse Adewole Adebayo

The coalition says the SDP candidate has a comprehensive manifesto and a four-year plan to tackle poverty, insecurity and other national challenges.

The CountryFirst Movement and allied pro-democracy groups have endorsed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.

The coalition announced its endorsement on Thursday, October 29, 2026, during a world press conference, saying its decision followed an assessment of presidential candidates’ manifestos, policy proposals and implementation plans.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, its convener, Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr., said the groups were committed to promoting issue-based politics and leadership driven by practical policies, measurable targets and clear timelines.

Nwaokobia disclosed that the coalition began challenging presidential candidates to present comprehensive manifestos on August 26, 2026.

According to him, of the 18 presidential candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the coalition received one comprehensive manifesto, while 10 others submitted summaries of their proposed programmes without sufficient implementation details.

The groups argued that Nigeria needed political parties with clear ideologies and practical development plans rather than platforms focused mainly on winning elections.

Explaining its choice, the coalition described Adebayo, a lawyer, businessman and media entrepreneur, as a progressive politician with a clear vision for addressing the country’s challenges.

It also linked the SDP’s political tradition to the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola’s 1993 presidential campaign, which promoted the message, “Farewell to Poverty.”

The coalition said Adebayo’s campaign message, “Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity,” reflected the party’s commitment to tackling poverty, insecurity and economic hardship.

According to the groups, Adebayo’s manifesto, which runs to 117 pages in print and 138 pages electronically, outlines 12 priority areas, including national security, food security, electricity, job creation, education, healthcare, infrastructure, innovation and accountability.

The document also contains a proposed four-year implementation framework.

Under the plan, the first 100 days would focus on establishing a Presidential Delivery and Performance Office, auditing key sectors, identifying priority projects, strengthening procurement transparency and introducing a presidential performance dashboard.

The first year would prioritise security, agricultural production, energy supply, infrastructure development and youth employment.

The second and third years would focus on expanding industrial development, electricity distribution, food processing, manufacturing, transportation, housing and water projects.

The fourth year would be devoted to completing priority projects, sustaining successful programmes and publishing audited performance reports to assess the administration’s performance.

The coalition further praised the manifesto’s emphasis on constitutional governance, social democracy, cooperative federalism, private-sector partnerships and citizen participation.

It said the proposals offered Nigerians an alternative to what it described as years of unfulfilled political promises.

The groups also urged political parties to publish detailed manifestos before inaugurating their presidential campaign councils, stressing that election campaigns should be guided by clear policy commitments.

The endorsement was jointly signed by Nwaokobia; Dabiraoluwa H. Adeyinka, coordinator of the Power in the Streets Movement; Alhaji Musa Isah of the Forum of North West Progressives; Obinna Okeke 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.

The coalition called on Nigerians, civil society organisations and other pro-democracy groups to support Adebayo, the SDP and the Movement Adebayo for President (MAP).

It expressed optimism that Adebayo’s election in 2027 would promote prosperity, security, accountability and inclusive national development.

The groups said their endorsement was based on a policy assessment of the available candidates and urged voters to consider manifestos, ideological clarity and measurable commitments when choosing Nigeria’s next president.