The Chief Communications Adviser to the Adewole Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 presidential election, Comrade Mark Adebayo, has urged Nigerians dissatisfied with the administration of President Bola Tinubu to channel their grievances into votes at the election.
Mark made the call on Monday in Abuja while addressing a press briefing on rising petrol prices and the state of the Nigerian economy.
He said reported protests and public expressions of anger over economic hardship should go beyond street demonstrations and translate into political action during the 2027 election.
According to him, “While we stand in absolute solidarity with every Nigerian exercising their constitutional right to protest these agonizing hardships, we are here today to deliver a vital message of strategy and long-term vision.”
“The anger on the streets is justified, but anger alone will not fix our broken economy, rescue our currency, or secure our communities. We must not limit our agitations to mere chants. If we truly want this suffering to end, our grievances must be translated into tangible, decisive action where it matters most: at the ballot box in next year’s presidential election.”
Mark criticized the Tinubu administration over rising petrol prices, claiming that Nigerians were paying between N1,500 and N2,000 per liter in some locations.
He alleged that a return of the Tinubu administration in 2027 could lead to further increases in petrol prices, accusing the government of being insensitive to the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
The campaign adviser also questioned President Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation.
The Presidency had announced that Tinubu mandated Shettima to represent him at the UNGA, scheduled for September 22 to 28, 2026. Shettima arrived in New York on Monday.
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Mark alleged that the president’s absence had raised questions about his relationship with the United States, although he provided no evidence that Tinubu was avoiding the US because of any legal matter.
According to him, “We need a president who can travel anywhere in the world without fear, suspicions, or controversies. President Tinubu has missed an auspicious opportunity to prove to Nigerians that, indeed, he is not running away from the American government.”
Mark said voting out the Tinubu administration would only be the first step, arguing that Nigerians must also be deliberate about who succeeds it.
He subsequently endorsed SDP presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo, saying the candidate had a policy framework to address Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
He said Adebayo’s proposed policies were focused on unemployment, food insecurity, economic instability, and insecurity, as well as social justice and economic equity.
On petrol prices, Mark said Adebayo had developed a strategy to reduce the pump price to below N500 per liter. He also referred to the candidate’s previously announced promise to reduce the prices of petrol, cooking gas, and Jet A1 to N200 per liter within 12 months if elected.
Adebayo made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria earlier in September.
Mark explained that under the proposed arrangement, the government would provide crude oil to local refineries in naira and operate a 50-50 arrangement with private refiners for crude allocated for domestic consumption.
“For example, you get 10 thousand barrels of crude free from the government. You refine 5,000 barrels free for the government; you take the other half as your payment. The government can then afford to sell fuel at very affordable prices to the public.
He also challenged media organizations that had questioned Adebayo’s N200 per liter petrol pledge to invite the candidate to explain and defend the proposal.
“For the media platforms that have challenged our presidential candidate to come and defend his N200 per liter promise, we are still expecting your invitation, and we promise that he will show up to defend this policy projection with empirical possibilities.”
Mark called on youth groups, civil society organizations, labor unions, and other Nigerians dissatisfied with the current administration to support Adebayo’s presidential bid.
“Let us turn our protests into political power. Let us organize, mobilize, and ensure that the energy on our streets becomes the vote that transforms Nigeria next year,” he said.
Comrade Mark said the campaign would soon commence nationwide mobilization under the message of “Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity,” adding that the objective was to promote what he described as a new direction for Nigeria.