Student Loan Is A Crime – SDP Candidate, Adebayo

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has described the Federal Government’s student loan policy as a crime against Nigerians, insisting that education should be free, compulsory, and of high quality.

Naija News reports that Adebayo, who spoke in an interview with Vanguard after emerging as the SDP presidential candidate, said Nigeria’s education system was being weakened by what he described as poor policy choices and deliberate lowering of standards.

Adebayo was most critical of the Federal Government’s student loan policy, describing it as unconstitutional and unfair to young Nigerians.

Asked whether he would continue student loans if elected, he said, “Student loans are a crime.”

Pressed further, he added, “Yes. It’s a crime against the constitution and against the people.”

The SDP candidate said education should not be funded through student loans, arguing that many current political leaders benefited from free education.

He said, “Why should students borrow money for education if education is supposed to be free, compulsory, and qualitative? The National Assembly members didn’t take loans for their own education. They enjoyed free education.

“Education should be free because if you don’t invest in your people, you destroy your society. You will turn scientists into taxi drivers. You destroy civilization, and insecurity grows because the people who should become innovators are abandoned. That is the kind of society APC is creating.”

Adebayo said a government that refuses to invest in education would create a society marked by unemployment, insecurity and wasted talent.

He maintained that the SDP would prioritise public education, social welfare and institutional accountability if elected in 2027.

He also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of focusing more on electoral victory than solving the daily problems of Nigerians, including food, transport, healthcare, jobs and education.

The SDP candidate said his party would pursue what he called “kitchen table politics,” which he explained as a governance philosophy centred on the everyday survival needs of ordinary Nigerians.

Speaking on his emergence as the SDP presidential candidate, Adebayo said he considered the nomination a fresh opportunity for the country and its citizens.

He said, “It feels good, though challenging. It’s a new opportunity for the country and for the sovereign people of this country who need a good government and a good plan.”

The SDP candidate said the party was positioning itself as an ideological alternative to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He dismissed suggestions that his emergence as a consensus candidate could create grudges within the party, saying the SDP understood the need to avoid internal divisions while facing an incumbent government.

He said, “No, I don’t think so. The party understands three things. First, we are facing an incumbent government, so we cannot afford internal struggles. Second, we are fundamentally an ideological party, so it’s not about personality triumphs.”

Adebayo also reacted to the internal crisis involving some officials of the SDP, including the legal issues surrounding the party’s former National Chairman.

He said he would not comment on matters already before the court, especially where a person was facing a criminal trial.

The SDP candidate, who is also a lawyer, said the rule of law must be allowed to prevail.

He said, “Well, I’m in a corner here because I’m a lawyer. Once you start with something being in court, especially someone who is at the risk of losing his liberty and facing a criminal trial, it is unethical for me to comment on it.

“But I hope the rule of law will work and that there will be political settlement without compromising the need not to encourage criminality or say criminality is politics. I think we should just allow the law to take its course.”

Adebayo said the disciplinary powers of the party must be exercised according to the SDP constitution, adding that members facing disciplinary action also had a duty to respect party processes.

He stated that institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and the police should not take sides in internal party matters but should discharge their responsibilities fairly.

According to him, “If you want to discipline somebody, you have to follow the law, and if you are facing disciplinary action, you have to respect it. If you are not satisfied, you can go to the appellate component of it. Institutions like INEC and the police should not take sides; they should do their own duty.”