The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, saying they do not represent the values of Islam in leadership.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Adebayo dismissed the significance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, the President and his deputy do not reflect the principles of justice, honesty and compassion that Islam teaches.
“Even if people were looking for Muslims in authority, the president and the vice don’t symbolize that; they symbolize the opposite,” Adebayo said.
“They are actually what the Prophet and all the leaders of Islam warned Muslims against.”
He added that leadership should be guided by justice, truth, honesty, kindness and charity, arguing that these qualities were lacking in the current administration.
“This kind of leadership where there is no justice, no truth, no honesty, where there is no kindness, and no charity. So I don’t think that sheep can come and rob the people one more time; it doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
Tinubu and Shettima were elected in 2023 on the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, a decision that generated widespread debate across the country.
Ahead of the 2027 general election, there had been speculation that the Vice President could be replaced with a Christian running mate.
However, President Tinubu recently confirmed that Shettima will remain his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
