The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kwara state, Professor Abdulmumeen Olayinka Ajia, has flagged off his campaign programme ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with loyalists and party supporters at the popular Oja Oba, Ilorin, on Wednesday, Ajia, who is a US university lecturer of Business Administration in the Lincoln University, pledged to establish functional education and healthcare systems that would improve lives of residents if elected governor in 2027.
The NDC governorship candidate, who said that his ambition was not to take over government for personal enrichment, added that his campaign was driven by a desire to improve the wellbeing of the people and create opportunities for children of ordinary citizens to excel through education.
“I will never be party to anything or anyone that will corrupt the system”, he said, adding that his prayer was to see the children of others also succeed in society.
Ajia also asked the electorate to hold him accountable if elected but he failed to perform, saying public office should be about service and responsibility rather than personal gain.
He said he would pursue and emulate educational initiatives associated with the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, which he said had enabled children from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain greater heights.
Ajia, who described the PDP and APC as “beds of the same feather”, said his campaign would not be centred on abusing other candidates.
The campaign programme, which featured music, tour around the Ilorin metropolis, among other activities, also saw the NDC flag bearer engaging with residents and business owners during the tour.
As part of activities surrounding the campaign, he visited traditional leaders, including the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin and the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, to seek their blessings ahead of the 2027 election.
He also stopped at the scene of an accident around Taiwo Road, where he sympathised with victims and sought their contact details, pledging to provide immediate support.