The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has warned President Bola Tinubu that his economic policies would significantly hinder his chances in the 2027 general election.
Gabam, who featured on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Sunday, dissected some of the most controversial moves made by the Tinubu administration, including the abrupt removal of the petrol subsidy, the unification of foreign exchange rates, and increases in both electricity and telecoms tariffs.
He stressed these unpopular decisions would alienate voters and erode public trust, thus weakening Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
The SDP chief said: “Tinubu needs to review some of his policies, and perhaps even reconsider his cabinet if he hopes to leave behind a lasting legacy.
“Otherwise, I don’t see how he survives another election with the same policies in place.”
He drew parallels with the 2012 protests against former President Goodluck Jonathan and warned that the growing discontent under Tinubu’s leadership could escalate in a similar fashion.
He recalled how, two years into Jonathan’s tenure, widespread protests led to a significant loss of public support and eventually contributed to his defeat in the 2015 election.
Gabam warned that the lesson from Jonathan’s downfall was clear: money alone cannot guarantee reelection—popularity is the key.
“Protests against Jonathan began two years into his administration, and he couldn’t survive them. No president in Nigerian history has spent as much money to secure reelection as Jonathan did, but in the end, it was his unpopularity that cost him,” he noted.
The SDP chairman also criticized the administration’s treatment of opposition voices.
He likened the current administration’s approach to that of an emperor, where any advice or criticism is met with hostility, rather than dialogue or constructive engagement.
“No one can offer advice to a governor anymore; they’ll just abuse you, and you’re expected to keep quiet. It’s the same with this government. The moment you offer advice, they view you as the enemy.
“They forget that some political parties stood by INEC when it announced the election results, because we didn’t want to see the country descend into anarchy,” the politician concluded.