The gubernatorial candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kwara State, Professor Abdulmumeen Olayinka Ajia, has abandoned his campaign program ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to party loyalists and supporters in popular Oja Oba, Ilorin, on Wednesday, Ajia, a professor of Business Administration at Lincoln University, pledged to establish functional education and healthcare systems that would improve the lives of residents if elected governor in 2027.
The NDC gubernatorial candidate, who said his ambition was not to take over government for personal enrichment, added that his campaign was driven by the desire to improve the welfare of the people and create opportunities for the children of ordinary citizens to excel through education.
“I will never be a part of anything or anyone that corrupts the system,” he said, adding that his prayer was to see other people’s children also succeed in society.
Ajia also asked the electorate to hold him accountable if elected, but they did not, 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 achieve greater heights.
Ajia, who described the PDP and APC as “beds of the same pen”, said his campaign would not focus on abusing other candidates.
The campaign programme, which included music and a tour of the Ilorin metropolis, among other activities, also saw the NDC flagbearer interact with residents and business owners during the tour.
As part of campaign-related activities, 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 elections.
He also stopped at the scene of an accident around Taiwo Road, where he sympathized with the victims and sought their contact details, promising to provide immediate support.
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