Adewole Adebayo

Adewole Adebayo
Born (1972-01-08) 8 January 1972
Ondo Town, Ondo State, Nigeria
Alma materObafemi Awolowo University
Political party
Social Democratic Party (Nigeria)

Prince Adewole Adebayo listenⓘ (born 8 January 1972) is a Nigerian lawyer and founder of KAFTAN TV.

In 2023, he ran for President of Nigeria under the Social Democratic Party (Nigeria). In May 2026, he was again selected as the SDP's presidential candidate to contest the 2027 Nigerian elections.[1][2]

Early life and education

Adebayo was born in Ondo City, Ondo State, on January 8, 1972. He is a member of the Ondo royal family whose family trace their lineage back to 1510.[3]

Between 1978 and 1983, he attended St. Stephen Primary School in Ondo. From 1983 to 1989, he attended St. Joseph College in Ondo. From 1991 to 1997, he attended Obafemi Awolowo University, where he earned a law degree. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2000 after graduating from the Nigerian Law School in Lagos and passing his bar exams. Adebayo later attended law school in the United States of America, where he passed the New York Bar Exams.[4]

Adebayo began his legal career as a litigation lawyer at Tunji Abayomi and Co. in Lagos, Nigeria. After two years of legal practice, he founded his own law firm, Adewole Adebayo & Co., House of Law, in 2002. The firm has earned recognition from the International Financial Law Firm Review (IFLR). [5][6]

One of the cases handled by his law firm in Nigeria was the case between Femi Falana and the Federal Government, in which Femi Falana (SAN) contested the constitutionality of the contract between the Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and Continental Transfert Technique Limited for the collection of Combined Expatriate and Residence Permit Aliens Card (CERPAC) fees. Adebayo represented Continental Transfert Technique Limited in the case.[7][8][9]

In 2006, he was appointed by the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States as a Commissioner on Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[10]

Adebayo is listed by the State Bar of California as an active attorney. Public attorney data also identifies an Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo registered in New York. He is listed in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators member directory as a Fellow, with Nigeria as his primary branch.[11][12][13]

Businesses

In 2016, Adebayo founded KAFTAN TV, a Nigerian television network operated by KAFTAN TV Ventures headquartered in Ondo Town, with additional offices in Lagos and Abuja.[14] The network provides news in regional languages, including Hausa and Yoruba. The network broadcasts to more than one million people in Nigeria.[15]

The company has also promoted an apprenticeship and training scheme for young broadcasters which has trained more than 1,000 young people in broadcasting and journalism.[16] He has been recognised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists in connection with his media activities.[17]

In addition to his media organisation, Adebayo has business interests in agriculture and forestry in northern Nigeria including a large-scale tree planting initiative.[18] According to media reports, he is also involved in mining, operating a site in Abuja focused on marble processing.[19]

Philanthropy

Adebayo sponsors nearly 2,000 young Nigerians in Nigerian and foreign tertiary institutions, in addition to numerous people he has financially empowered across the country.[20] He has reportedly provided his home as a refuge for Nigerians escaping religious violence in the country.[21]

Each year, Adebayo hosts an annual marathon on Christmas Day in his hometown of Ondo which sees approximately 5,000 athletes take part from across Nigeria and Africa.[22]

Politics

Adebayo is a public affairs commentator who provides advice on national issues on occasion.[23][24][25] and participates in Nigerian politics as a member of the Third Force.[26][27][28]

Adebayo contested the 2023 Nigerian general election as a presidential candidate for the Social Democratic Party (Nigeria). In May 2026, he was selected as the SDP's presidential candidate for the 2027 Nigerian general election.[29]

References

  1. ^ Okeke-Korieocha, Ifeoma (2025-05-24). "Adewole Adebayo on SDP's Vision for Nigeria's Future". BusinessDay. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  2. ^ Olatunji, Kehinde (2026-05-11). "Adebayo emerges SDP presidential candidate for 2027". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  3. ^ sshah (2025-09-22). "Prince Adewole Adebayo: A visionary leader poised to transform Nigeria". African Business. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  4. ^ "Adebayo Ebenezer Adebayo".
  5. ^ "Adewole Adebayo & Co. Abuja Contact Details".
  6. ^ "Adebayo Adebayo, Managing Partner".
  7. ^ "Court grants stay of execution over increase in expatriate fees". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria.
  8. ^ "Court Grants Stay Of Execution Order On Current $2,000 CERPAC Fees". Nigerian Tribune.
  9. ^ "Lawyer Faults Falana over Alleged Diversion of Remittance on CERPAC Project". This Day.
  10. ^ "Consolidated Final Report: Volume II" (PDF). Truth and Reconciliation Commission Liberia. Republic of Liberia, Truth and Reconciliation Commission. June 30, 2009. Retrieved 2026-06-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo # 301393 - Attorney Licensee Search". apps.calbar.ca.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  12. ^ "New York State Unified Court System: Attorney Directory". New York State Unified Court System. 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  13. ^ "Ciarb | Profile". www.ciarb.org. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  14. ^ Report, Agency (2022-06-09). "Kaftan TV founder, Adebayo, wins SDP presidential ticket". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  15. ^ "KAFTAN TV Receives Excellence Merit Award". Precision. Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  16. ^ Ogunyinka, Victor (2022-01-08). "Unraveling the Enigma of Adewole Adebayo @ 50". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  17. ^ Ofori, Oral (2022-07-02). "Nigerian Presidential Candidate Adewole Adebayo visits U.S." TheAfricanDream. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  18. ^ "Agbede Agric Projects Ltd". NG-Check.com. 1989-04-23. Retrieved 2026-06-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Odeyinka, Oluwatobi (2025-01-11). "Former Presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo recommends land, infrastructure reforms for ease of doing business in Nigeria". Nairametrics. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  20. ^ "Unraveling the Enigma of Adewole Adebayo @ 50". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria.
  21. ^ "Trump is right: Nigeria needs foreign military support to eliminate insecurity". The Independent. 2025-11-15. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  22. ^ Dada, Peter (2025-12-28). "5,000 athletes compete in Ondo Christmas marathon". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  23. ^ "Impact positively on Nigerians before leaving office, Adewole tells Buhari". Blueprint. Abuja, Nigeria.
  24. ^ "Nigeria @ 61: Adebayo proffers solution to nation's electoral challenges at National Political Summit". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria.
  25. ^ "Adewole Adebayo, Segun Mimiko, others speak at Tanko Yinusa's 50th birthday lecture". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria.
  26. ^ "NCF'll offer viable solutions to get Nigeria out of the woods, says Adewole Adebayo". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria.
  27. ^ "2023: Jega, Moghalu, Agbakoba, Ezekwesili, Utomi, Other Prominent Nigerians Launch Political Coalition".
  28. ^ "Barrister Adewole Adebayo charges Nigerians for collective fulfillment as key solution to challenges". Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  29. ^ Reporters, Our (2026-05-09). "2027: Again, Adewole emerges SDP presidential candidate". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
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