2027: Kwara NDC Gov Candidate Flags Off Campaign, Unveils Agenda

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kwara State, Abdulmumin Ajia, has formally launched his campaign for the 2027 election, promising to prioritise security, education, healthcare, job creation and infrastructure if elected.

Ajia flagged off the campaign in Ilorin on Thursday and unveiled his “Forward Kwara Agenda,” which he described as an integrated development plan for the state.He criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), labelling both as symbols of “old politics.”

According to him, their approach to governance has been marked by scattered projects driven by political convenience rather than a coordinated strategy.

“The APC and PDP represent the old approach of scattered projects, political convenience and programmes that do not work together,” Ajia said. He stated that the NDC would instead link security, education, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, employment and grassroots development.

The candidate pledged to strengthen public schools and health facilities, expand affordable health insurance, improve roads and public transportation, and support traders, artisans, farmers and small businesses. He also promised to connect education and skills acquisition to job opportunities, boost agricultural production and processing, and develop a framework to address outstanding pensioners’ gratuities.

Ajia said his administration would publicly release its major commitments, timelines and the institutions responsible for implementation so that residents could track performance. “We will publish our commitments. We will report our progress. We will explain delays. And we will accept responsibility for our performance,” he declared.

He emphasised that his campaign would focus on issues rather than personal attacks, adding that he was seeking office to serve the people and not for personal enrichment. “I will never be party to anything or anyone that will corrupt the system,” he said.

Ajia urged voters to hold elected officials accountable and warned against allowing party loyalty to override the state’s interests. “Do not give us four years of silence. Do not defend us when we are wrong simply because you voted for us,” he added.

As part of the campaign activities, the NDC candidate toured parts of Ilorin, interacted with residents and traders, and paid courtesy visits to traditional leaders, including the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin and the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, to seek their support and blessings.

He also visited the scene of an accident around Taiwo Road, where he sympathised with the victims, collected their contact details and promised assistance.At the flag-off event, Ajia presented a retired educationist, Elder Ajayi Israel Awolowo, as his running mate and introduced the party’s candidates for the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

He called on Kwarans to vote for NDC candidates across the governorship, National Assembly and state Assembly elections, arguing that a uniform mandate would enable the party to implement its development plans. “We are not asking for a blank cheque. We are asking for the opportunity to serve and accepting the obligation to account for that service,” he concluded.