Adewole Adebayo is a lawyer and media owner from Ondo State and the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for the second time. He presents the SDP as a “third force” against the dominance of the APC and the PDP.12

Early life and education

Adebayo was born in Ondo on 8 January 1972 into the town’s royal family. He studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University, was called to the Nigerian bar in 2000, and later qualified to practise in the United States.1

He began his career with the Lagos law firm of Tunji Abayomi and founded his own firm, Adewole Adebayo & Co., in 2002. In 2006 he was appointed to Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 2016 he founded KAFTAN TV, which broadcasts news in English and Nigerian languages including Hausa and Yoruba. He also has interests in agriculture and mining and says he sponsors the education of about 2,000 students.1

Presidential campaigns

Adebayo joined the SDP as a student in the early 1990s. He was its presidential candidate in 2023, when he finished well behind the four leading candidates. In May 2026 the party returned him unopposed as its candidate for 2027.12 He has accused the governing APC of weakening the opposition and has criticised public procurement under the current government.2

References

  1. Adewole Adebayo. Wikipedia, accessed October 2026. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. SDP picks Adebayo as presidential candidate for 2027, accuses APC of weakening Nigeria’s opposition. Arise News, May 2026. ↩ ↩ ↩