The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has raised the alarm over the action of security operatives that stormed the party’s national secretariat after his presidential screening exercise.

Adebayo alleged that the action was part of a coordinated attempt to disrupt the SDP’s presidential nomination process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the move was orchestrated to frustrate his ambition of emerging as the party’s presidential candidate.

Speaking after the incident, Adebayo accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to impose “one-man rule” on the country, alleging that forces loyal to the presidency were behind the operation at the party secretariat.

The SDP chieftain specifically mentioned James Faleke and Joash Amupitan as part of those he claimed had perfected plans to destabilise the party’s internal process and prevent his emergence as the SDP flagbearer.

“President Tinubu, the autocrat, has sent his goons to invade the SDP National Secretariat, a day after I completed my presidential primary election screening.

“Tinubu wants one-man rule in Nigeria. We will defeat him. It is cowardly and not presidential for the President to be afraid of competition.”

Sources within the party disclosed that Adebayo had visited the secretariat for his nomination screening exercise before policemen reportedly swooped on the premises in the early hours of Thursday, creating panic among party officials and supporters.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the Presidency, the Nigeria Police Force, or the individuals named in the allegations.