The CountryFirst Movement and allied pro-democracy organisations have endorsed the presidential candidacy of Prince Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 general election, describing him as the candidate with the most comprehensive manifesto and a workable roadmap for addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
The groups announced their endorsement on Thursday, October 29, 2026, during a world press conference, following what they described as an extensive examination of the manifestos, policy proposals and implementation timelines presented by presidential candidates.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Convener of the CountryFirst Movement, Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr., said the endorsement followed a patriotic assessment of the candidates’ preparedness and their capacity to deliver effective governance.
According to the groups, their decision was informed by the need to move Nigerian politics away from campaign promises without clear implementation strategies towards issue-based campaigns anchored on practical policies, measurable targets and timelines.
Nwaokobia explained that the coalition had, since August 26, 2026, undertaken a campaign to challenge presidential candidates to present comprehensive manifestos detailing their plans for the country.
He disclosed that, out of 18 presidential candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the coalition received one full and comprehensive manifesto, while 10 others submitted briefs containing graphics and summaries of their proposed programmes without sufficient details or implementation timelines.
The coalition expressed concern that many political parties had become mere vehicles for electoral contests rather than ideological platforms with clearly defined visions and policy directions.
It argued that Nigeria’s recurring leadership challenges could be addressed through a political system that prioritises ideological consistency, policy development and measurable commitments to national development.
Presenting Adebayo as its preferred candidate, the coalition described the SDP presidential flagbearer as a lawyer, businessman, media entrepreneur and progressive political figure with the experience and commitment required to lead Nigeria.
The groups also highlighted the SDP’s historical connection with the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, whose 1993 presidential campaign carried the message, “Farewell to Poverty.”
They noted that Adebayo’s campaign message, “Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity,” reflected the party’s ideological foundation and its commitment to addressing poverty, insecurity and other pressing national challenges.
According to the coalition, Adebayo’s 117-page printed manifesto, with a 138-page electronic version, provides a comprehensive framework for moving Nigeria from poverty to prosperity, insecurity to safety, and hardship to an improved quality of life.
The manifesto outlines 12 presidential priorities, including securing the country, ensuring food security, improving electricity supply, providing affordable energy, creating jobs, supporting enterprise, expanding education and skills development, improving healthcare, developing infrastructure, promoting innovation, strengthening transparency and accountability, and building a united federation.
The groups said the document also contains a four-year delivery framework detailing how the proposed administration intends to implement its policies and measure progress.
Under the framework, the first 100 days would focus on establishing a Presidential Delivery and Performance Office, issuing compliance and results directives to ministries, departments and agencies, conducting baseline audits across critical sectors, identifying priority projects and introducing procurement transparency measures.
The proposed administration would also seek to establish federal-state delivery agreements and publish its first presidential performance dashboard.
During the first year, the manifesto proposes measures to stabilise essential services, improve national security, expand agricultural production, accelerate domestic refining and energy logistics, initiate power and transport projects, and mobilise youth through skills acquisition and employment programmes.
The second and third years would focus on expanding industrial clusters, strategic infrastructure, electricity distribution, irrigation, storage and food processing, pharmaceutical production, technology, manufacturing, rail and urban transportation, housing and water projects.
The fourth year would be devoted to completing priority projects, institutionalising successful programmes, publishing audited performance reports and presenting Nigerians with a transparent end-of-term assessment.
The coalition further commended the manifesto’s emphasis on constitutional governance, social democracy, cooperative federalism, evidence-based policymaking, private-sector partnerships, accountability and citizen participation.
It said the proposed governance framework draws significantly from Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which contains the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.
The organisations maintained that Adebayo’s policy proposals offered a credible alternative to what they described as years of ineffective leadership and unfulfilled political promises.
“We present to Nigerians the candidate with a clear blueprint and a workable programme for a new Nigeria,” the coalition declared, urging citizens, civil society organisations and other pro-democracy groups to support his candidacy.
The coalition also called on political parties to prioritise the publication of detailed manifestos before inaugurating their presidential campaign councils, arguing that campaign structures should be built around clearly articulated policy commitments.
It warned that without a fundamental change in the country’s political culture, Nigerians risked continuing in a cycle of unprepared leadership and disappointing governance outcomes.
The endorsement was jointly signed by Nwaokobia, Convener of the CountryFirst Movement; Dabiraoluwa H. Adeyinka, Coordinator of Power in the Streets Movement (PITS); Alhaji Musa Isah of the Forum of North West Progressives; Obinna Okeke, Organising Secretary of the CountryFirst Movement; Fred Uke of the United Middlebelt Forum; Bernice Adeyemi of the South South Peoples Forum; and Ayegba Iyaji of the National Rescue Movement, North Central.
The groups urged Nigerians to rally behind Adebayo, the SDP and the Movement Adebayo for President (MAP), describing the campaign as a roadmap towards a new Nigeria.
They expressed optimism that Adebayo’s emergence as president in 2027 would usher in a new era of prosperity, security, accountability and inclusive national development.
The coalition concluded that its endorsement was the outcome of a policy-based assessment of the available presidential candidates and called on Nigerians to place greater emphasis on manifestos, ideological clarity and measurable governance commitments in deciding the country’s next president.
