Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has singled out the Social Democratic Party presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, as one of the emerging political figures whose economic ideas deserve serious attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ajaero made the assessment during an interview at the weekend while discussing the economic positions of politicians expected to shape the debate ahead of the election.
The NLC president also mentioned the Accord Party presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, saying he was prepared to listen to their economic propositions.
“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.
His comments came as he examined the economic philosophies of some of the major political figures in the 2027 race, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party.
Ajaero argued that Tinubu, Atiku and Obi broadly share a market-oriented approach to the economy.
“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right,” he said.
By contrast, Ajaero’s reference to Adebayo and Olawepo-Hashim highlighted what he described as economic positions that warranted further engagement.
Adebayo, who is contesting the presidency on the SDP platform, has anchored his campaign on social democracy, productive enterprise and a stronger government role in expanding economic opportunities.
His policy proposals focus on boosting domestic production, creating jobs, improving public services and tackling the rising cost of living.
The SDP candidate has also criticised aspects of Nigeria’s approach to fuel pricing, electricity, education, healthcare and unemployment, arguing that economic policies should strengthen domestic production and improve citizens’ welfare.
In his policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031, Adebayo proposed a system of measurable government performance built around presidential monitoring, baseline assessments, quarterly targets and corrective measures.
The framework, according to the SDP candidate, is intended to make government more accountable by ensuring that policies and programmes are subjected to measurable performance standards.
Ajaero’s comments are likely to add another dimension to the growing debate over the economic alternatives being presented by presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election.