The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State has launched an extensive sensitisation and membership campaign in Ilorin to bolster its presence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The exercise, led by Dr. Abdulmumin Ajia, a professor of Business Administration at Lincoln University, United States, saw party officials and supporters engage residents at major locations across the Ilorin metropolis.

Speaking during his declaration as an ADC governorship aspirant, Ajia said the initiative was aimed at providing a credible alternative to voters. “Our goal is to strengthen the party and ensure citizens have real choices in the forthcoming elections,” he said.

Ajia, who previously contested the governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, promised that his administration would introduce digital governance, allowing citizens to access government services and track projects online.

“Our administration will go beyond publishing budgets; citizens will be able to monitor projects, contracts, and results,” he stated.

In his declaration address titled “Systems First: A New Direction for Kwara,” Ajia argued that the failure of governance in Nigeria is rooted in dysfunctional systems, not citizens. “People do not fail first. Systems fail first. When systems work, people rise. When systems collapse, people adapt just to survive,” he explained.

He unveiled a four-pillar framework to guide his administration: opportunity creation, systems building, credible job provision, and an enterprise pipeline that rewards effort and reduces barriers for small businesses.

Ajia also pledged reforms in healthcare, education, and other public services, stressing stronger frontline accountability and process-driven governance. He invited professionals, youth leaders, women leaders, diaspora Kwarans, traditional institutions, and civil society actors to participate in shaping a governance culture based on systems rather than political theatrics.

Acknowledging public scepticism toward politicians, Ajia urged citizens to evaluate leaders based on discipline and clarity, not hype. “Judge us by the seriousness of our framework and the quality of the team we build around it,” he urged.

The membership drive is part of ADC’s broader strategy to solidify its grassroots support in Kwara ahead of the 2027 polls.