- SDP Chairman Shehu Gabam warned that President Tinubu’s economic policies, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, may harm his chances in the 2027 election
- Gabam criticised the government’s suppression of opposition voices, likening the leadership style to that of an emperor, which could undermine democratic processes
- Gabam then drew parallels with the 2012 protests against Goodluck Jonathan, suggesting similar outcomes could threaten Tinubu’s re-election prospects
Shehu Gabam, the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has asserted that President Bola Tinubu may not be able to survive the 2027 presidential election if his current economic policies continue.
Gabam made the remark during a live interview on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
The SDP leader criticised several of Tinubu's policies, describing them as unpopular and harmful to the Nigerian populace.
He pointed to the sudden removal of the petrol subsidy, the unification of foreign exchange rates, and hikes in electricity and telecoms tariffs as key examples of actions that have drawn widespread public dissatisfaction.
“He [Tinubu] needs to review some of his policies, he needs to rejig his cabinet if he wants to leave a legacy within two years. And I don’t see him surviving another election with the same kind of policies going on,” Gabam said.
The SDP chairman drew parallels between the protests against Tinubu’s government and the mass demonstrations that marred former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2012, which ultimately contributed to Jonathan’s inability to secure re-election.
Gabam warned that the public’s growing dissatisfaction with the current government could lead to similar outcomes, with the 2027 election potentially being a turning point for the president.
“Protests against Jonathan started two years into his administration, and he couldn’t survive it. And there will be no president in history who has spent money to be reelected like President Jonathan. So, if people are thinking they will use money, they are mistaken. You will only rig while you are popular,” Gabam added.
In addition to his criticism of economic policies, Gabam also accused the Tinubu administration of stifling opposition voices and creating a hostile environment for dissent.
He claimed that the government had shown little tolerance for advice or criticism, likening the current leadership style to that of an emperor.
Gabam further argued that the government’s hostility towards opposition voices and its refusal to engage in constructive dialogue could undermine the country's democratic processes.
“Nobody can talk to a governor; he will abuse you, he’s an emperor, you dare not talk to him, you dare not advise him. The same thing applies to the current government
“The moment you advise them, they see you as an enemy,” the SDP chairman further stated.
The SDP chairman also denied claims that the government provides political parties with monthly allocations, which he argued would compromise the opposition’s role as a watchdog and undermine democracy.
Tinubu's policies have saved Nigeria from economic crisis – Finance Minister Edun
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, credited President Bola Tinubu's initiatives, particularly the decision to halt the importation of fuel, for rescuing Nigeria from a potential economic disaster.
Edun made this statement on Monday, November 18, in Bauchi, during the opening of the National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) conference, which carried the theme, “Fostering Economic Growth in Challenging Times.”
