The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has disclosed that Labour Party's Peter Obi is engaged in serious underground discussions aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Adebayo revealed that significant political realignments are taking place away from public view, with opposition leaders holding strategic meetings to form a united front against the incumbent president.

"What is going on now is going on quietly. The leaders of the parties are meeting. The real people, who have control over their political structures, are meeting. It is not something that we want to discuss on the pages of newspapers," Adebayo stated.

The international lawyer and media executive dismissed social media speculations about coalition formations, insisting that more substantial plans are being developed behind closed doors. He emphasized that the 2027 presidential contest would be determined by Nigerian voters rather than political defections or propaganda.

Adebayo expressed confidence that President Tinubu would be defeated in 2027, stating: "What is certain is that President Tinubu is not a match with Nigerian people, and anyone backed by Nigerian people, myself included, would defeat the incumbent leader."

According to the SDP candidate, Nigerians have given Tinubu two years to demonstrate his leadership capabilities but suggested the President's performance thus far indicates he "needs more than prayers to succeed."

When specifically asked about Peter Obi's involvement in opposition discussions, Adebayo praised the Labour Party candidate's disciplined approach: "I don't think he wants anybody to be talking about what he's doing, because he appears to have more discipline than other people. Peter Obi goes quietly. He has meetings with people he doesn't expose to the media. He's a highly disciplined person."

Adebayo further revealed that opposition discussions are centered on ideology, methodology, and political accommodation, with the ultimate goal of presenting a unified challenge to the current administration.

"What we understand, and which is commonsensical political science, is that there must be one grand leader, a challenger against President Tinubu in 2027," he explained, adding that the opposition must first resolve their internal differences before effectively challenging the ruling party.

When asked if he would consider stepping down for Peter Obi in the interest of Nigeria, Adebayo responded: "That will come later, but for what I see, I like what he's doing, he hasn't said he doesn't like what I'm doing. He's serious minded."

The SDP candidate advised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to focus more on delivering good governance rather than worrying about electoral defeat, stating: "They should be worried first about not serving Nigerians well. They shouldn't be too worried about losing the election. They should be worried about disappointing the people."