Prof. Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia, the Kwara State governorship flagbearer for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has detailed his roadmap for unseating both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming polls.
Ajia said the growing demand for change across Nigeria, including Kwara, presented an opportunity for the NDC to turn the tide against the two main parties.
Ajia, who spoke during the News Keg Engagement Series organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council, in Ilorin, also pledged to introduce a N120,000 wage award for workers if elected.
Responding to a question on how he intended to overcome the political machinery of the APC and PDP, the candidate said his immediate focus was to build the NDC’s structures and take his message to every community in the state.
He said: “I know that we are competing against entrenched political parties and political players. But I think we are seeing the wind of change, not only in Kwara but across Nigeria. Nigerians and Kwarans are interested in something different.”
Ajia explained that his strategy would involve strengthening the party’s organisation while personally reaching out to residents in towns and villages to explain his vision, policy proposals and commitments.
“I have to go to every community, every forum, and explain myself. As I go around the state and explain my agenda, what I stand for, my commitments, and how extremely serious I am about what I am proposing, I believe Kwarans will see the difference,” he said.
He insisted that voters should have the opportunity to measure his performance against the commitments he was making during the campaign.
The NDC candidate said the electorate should move beyond the conventional political promises of roads, water and other infrastructure and pay attention to the systems through which governments deliver public services.
Ajia maintained that his proposed approach to governance would distinguish him from the other leading contenders.
He urged voters to assess the candidates as though they were recruiting someone to manage an organisation.
“If Kwara is a company after profits, who among the three of us would you rather hire?” he asked.
He challenged Kwarans to examine the candidates’ proposals and determine who could best manage their affairs.
Ajia also linked his political ambition to the leadership philosophy of the NDC’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, respectively.
He described Obi as a prudent administrator who recorded developmental achievements during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
He identified Kwankwaso as “a prominent advocate of human capacity development”.
What You Should Know
Prof. Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia is positioning the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a viable third-force alternative against the entrenched political machines of the APC and PDP in Kwara State by focusing on grassroots engagement and better public service delivery systems.
- Positive Impact: Voters are presented with alternative policy proposals, a chance for genuine political competition, and a proposed N120,000 minimum wage award for state workers.
- Potential Concerns: Breaking the strong political structures of the ruling APC and major opposition PDP remains a formidable challenge for a newer political platform.
