The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar cannot use the party for his political ambition.
Adebayo, who made the remark during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Wednesday, added that he will not step down for Atiku.
The former presidential candidate also clarified that Atiku had not requested that anybody step down, pointing out that the SDP belongs to Nigerians.
“I will not [step down], and he [Atiku] has not said anybody should step down. Neither me nor Vice President Atiku Abubakar can use the SDP. The SDP belongs to the Nigerian people. Nobody can use it.
“What can happen is that people who now believe that the SDP is right, and that their ideologies align, can come to the party. Knowing that the party is open and democratic, they will want to come in and compete, because you have the best chance of competing in a system that hasn’t been bought over by anybody.
“But if you think the SDP is something you can just use — it cannot be used. What you can do is ally with the SDP and respect its ideology and the work that has been done by those who are already there.
“If you want to join and contribute, that’s fine. But if someone is sitting somewhere and wants to use something, we are not available to be used,” Adebayo said.
