By Samuel Sunday
The presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party, Victor Femi Ekunyan, has shifted focus from mere declaration to a broader call for national unity, economic restructuring, and institutional reforms as he formally joined the 2027 presidential race.
Addressing newsmen at a press briefing held in Ado-Ekiti with party leaders drawn from different local governments, Ekunyan positioned himself as a bridge-builder, insisting that Nigeria’s progress depends on unity across political divides. He declared that he “belongs to both fraction,” pledging to reconcile factions within the political space for the overall interest of the country.
He argued that Nigeria’s major problem is not the absence of resources but the lack of a coordinated national agenda, stressing that successive governments have failed to connect policies across states and local governments to drive real economic growth.
Ekunyan outlined employment as the core of his vision, explaining that large-scale national infrastructure projects would serve as the engine for job creation. He projected tens of millions of jobs, insisting that economic revival must start with deliberate government-driven initiatives that link communities and industries.
On healthcare and education, he admitted that providing free services would be capital intensive but maintained that Nigeria has sufficient resources to fund them. He promised to expand hospitals, build new clinics, recruit more doctors and nurses, and upgrade medical facilities nationwide.
He also emphasized the introduction of a comprehensive health database system to track patients and improve treatment efficiency, noting that better coordination would reduce waste and strengthen service delivery across the country.
In the education sector, Ekunyan reaffirmed his commitment to free education at all levels, adding that his administration would invest in modern learning tools, especially computers, while improving teachers’ welfare and strengthening institutional capacity.
Speaking on infrastructure, he linked development directly to economic growth, promising a national network that integrates transportation, electricity, and digital connectivity. He insisted that stable power supply remains critical, blaming current failures on human mismanagement rather than technical limitations.
On anti-corruption, the aspirant took a direct swipe at public spending practices, arguing that mismanagement of state allocations fuels corruption. He pledged to review and restructure public finance systems to block leakages and ensure accountability.
Declaring his candidacy for the 2027 election, Ekunyan said his ambition is rooted in national service and divine purpose, assuring Nigerians that his leadership would prioritize job creation, institutional reforms, and unity as the foundation for rebuilding the country.
In his remarks, Chief Sanya Atofarati, described the moment as a significant turning point, noting that it proves that people of integrity and value still remain within the People’s Democratic Party. He welcomed the development and expressed renewed confidence that the party is regaining its strength, admitting that many members had at some point begun to lose hope.
Stressing that the growing support from the electorate shows that the PDP is gradually bouncing back despite past challenges. Atofariti, however, criticized the current government for failing to deliver on key issues such as security and infrastructure, while focusing mainly on winning elections.
Atofarati described such as a serious challenge and maintained that the declaration by the aspirant signals a new direction, adding that PDP stakeholders are now coming together in the overall interest of Nigerians, particularly as a voice for the South-West region.
