“Gabam Slams Tinubu’s Economic Policies, Predicts Election Loss if Not Reviewed”

Shehu Gabam, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the president could face defeat in the 2027 elections if he doesn’t overhaul his economic policies.

Tinubu’s administration has faced widespread criticism, particularly from opposition parties, for controversial measures such as the unification of forex rates and the removal of fuel subsidies. Critics argue that these policies have caused severe hardship for Nigerians since the president assumed office in May 2023, though the presidency insists these steps are necessary for long-term economic stability.

Appearing on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program aired on Channels Television, Gabam stated that if Tinubu wants to leave a positive legacy, he must reassess his policies and make significant changes. “He (Tinubu) needs to review some of his policies, and he needs to rejig his cabinet if he wants to leave a legacy in two years,” Gabam said. “I don’t see him surviving another election with the same kind of policies going on.”

Gabam drew a parallel between the protests against Tinubu’s government and the demonstrations that plagued former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2012, just two years into his tenure. He warned that if protests continue to mount, Tinubu could suffer a similar fate. “Protests against Jonathan started two years into his administration, and he couldn’t survive it,” he remarked. “There has never been a president in Nigeria who spent more money to be reelected than President Jonathan. If people think they can buy elections, they’re mistaken. You can only rig while you’re popular.”

Additionally, Gabam accused the current government of stifling opposition voices. He claimed that state governors under Tinubu’s leadership act with authoritarian tendencies, saying, “Nobody can talk to a governor; he’ll abuse you, he’s an emperor. The same thing applies to the current government. The moment you advise them, they see you as an enemy.”

Gabam concluded by reminding the administration that many political parties supported the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the aftermath of the election results to avoid chaos. “We don’t want anarchy to ensue,” he added.