NDC Chair Urges Opposition to Unite for 2027 Elections

Pastor Adedayo Ekong, the National Vice Chairman for the South-West of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, spoke with YUSUF OKETOLA about the need for opposition parties to come together. He believes this is crucial for winning the 2027 presidential election and discussed the readiness of the party for upcoming political challenges.

Ekong said, "I think it is important for us to get certain things right; NDC is strong because the economy right now is not friendly to people and we all are aware of what is going on in the country." He emphasized that the focus should not be on regions but on Nigerians as a whole. "We are saying Nigeria deserves better than what they are getting right now. That is an established matter, and NDC cannot be separated from the affairs of the country because we are a political party."

He added, "NDC is here to serve the people and the people are very anxious because they want a credible leader that can lead the people right and that is what NDC represents." Ekong highlighted the struggles Nigerians face, saying, "People are hungry all over the country. Their welfare, healthcare, education and so on and so forth are not properly taken care of."

He pointed out that Nigerians deserve a leader who can provide real options. He mentioned, "At this stage, credible alternatives are our principals, both Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso. They are people that have been tried and trusted of all the presidential candidates. A lot of Nigerians are yearning for immediate change and by the grace of God, come 2027, we will have that change."

Ekong stressed that the focus should be on unity. "So, it is not about whether people are from South-West or North. We are facing a general issue. Nigerians are just generally looking for a credible alternative and NDC provides that credible alternative."

He said, "To be honest, to win the election, we must have a formidable front, a strong coalition where everybody will join forces. I think it is important for people to put their self-interest aside and do the right thing by having a formidable front that can muscle this and win." He believes that joining forces with other parties like ADC will create a winning situation.

Ekong noted, "Though, NDC has an edge because the combo we have in terms of our presidential candidate and vice-presidential candidate is a very strong one. But I think discussions are still ongoing and by the grace of God, we will get some good result or resolve."

He added, "It is achievable. But it has to be something everybody will be able to say, for the interest of the people, that we want to lead, let us come together and have a common front." He is optimistic about the upcoming negotiations, stating that they will figure out the best way forward.

Ekong mentioned the challenges NDC faces in Lagos State, where some candidates’ posters have been removed. "We are hoping that they realize that elections should not be a war. In this dispensation of democracy, the people should be allowed to express where their interest lies and who will be of benefit to them at the end of the day."

He believes that if those in power are confident in their achievements, they should not fear competition. "Things are changing on a daily basis. You think you can oppress people and get away with it? Democracy is about people having the liberty to choose who governs them."

He stated, "The mandate belongs to the people and the integrity of the process for this coming election is very key. It is very important for the right thing to be done without any bias. INEC, for example, should not be biased and partisan. They should be neutral."

Ekong added, "The most important thing for us is to restructure the economy which is currently in a bad state. We have to make the economy strong and beneficial to the people." He believes moving from a consumption-based economy to a production-based one is crucial for addressing issues like food prices and infrastructure.

He emphasized that NDC is ready to tackle many issues. "I believe that, ultimately, when NDC becomes stronger, disciplined and a political party that will be people-centred, we will build a party where competence, accountability and capacity will matter."

Ekong is realistic about change, saying, "I’m not saying NDC is going to perform magic overnight, but we will take things accordingly and see how we can position things for the interest and comfort of the people." He expressed the need for better governance in Nigeria.

He explained that, "Nigerians deserve better governance than what they are experiencing right now. I am a grassroots person, and I have been able to liaise with people, I feel their pains and the conditions a lot of Nigerians are living in right now are terrible."

Ekong stressed the need for a government that responds to the people's needs. He pointed out the failures in healthcare and education, saying, "Nigerians deserve better and the only way we can achieve this is to have a new Nigeria and that is possible when we have a credible leader of capacity who does the right thing and NDC is ready for that."

He concluded by saying, "What NDC represents is service to the people. Security is a very crucial matter and we know that this insecurity has affected every area of our lives. They should look into children care and be more serious about it."

Ekong stated that NDC does not support the return of subsidy. He also addressed the issues with candidate replacements by INEC, saying, "This is a very serious matter and it borders on the integrity of the election."

He reiterated that the electoral commission needs to be transparent and fair in its processes. "INEC claimed that it was probably some electronic issue, but it was looking into it to make sure everything was sorted out. It is not an NDC error and I wouldn’t want us to blow this out of proportion."