The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 Nigerian elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, expressed concerns about Nigeria’s economic situation. He suggested that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is closely aligned with the economic ideology of international financial institutions like the Bretton Woods institutions. He also shared his views on various topics, including the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act and the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He pointed out that legislative solutions to electoral issues should focus on maintaining the integrity of the electoral process rather than solely relying on technology, such as the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the transparency and credibility of the election process.
Regarding the appointment of the INEC chairman, he discussed the challenges of finding the right individuals of character and integrity for key positions in the government. He noted that while some suggest taking the appointment power away from the president, the focus should be on ensuring that appointees are individuals of high character, regardless of who appoints them.
On economic policies, he commented on the choices made by the government and their impact on factors like the stability of the currency, exchange rates, commodity prices, and factors of production. He suggested that these choices are guided by the government’s commitment to the economic ideology of the Bretton Woods institutions and that a change in policy direction would be ideal but unlikely.
In summary, Prince Adewole Adebayo expressed his views on various political and economic matters in Nigeria, highlighting the challenges and ideological commitments of the government.