The running mate to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Chief Niyi Aborisade, has said the party will place youth, farmers and businesses at the centre of its agenda if elected in the 2027 governorship election.

Aborisade, who stated this while accepting his nomination as the running mate to the ADC governorship candidate, Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe, popularly known as Eleniyan, said the party was committed to building a new Oyo State driven by competence, accountability, opportunity and justice.

The human rights lawyer said his decision to accept the running mate position was not motivated by personal ambition, but by a desire to contribute to the development of the state and improve the lives of its people.

According to him, the ADC ticket represented more than a political arrangement, describing it as “a covenant with the people” and a partnership between two individuals united by the conviction that Oyo State could do better.

Aborisade said the proposed ADC administration would focus on creating opportunities for young people, supporting farmers, removing unnecessary obstacles to businesses, and strengthening critical sectors of the economy.

“We want an Oyo State where young people do not have to abandon their dreams because opportunities are scarce; where our farmers can produce, prosper and feed the nation; where businesses can grow without unnecessary obstacles,” he said.

The United Kingdom-trained lawyer also pledged that the party would prioritise education, healthcare, infrastructure and security, saying government must return to its fundamental responsibility of improving the welfare of citizens.

Aborisade said the proposed administration would seek to build schools capable of preparing children for the future, improve healthcare delivery and ensure that roads supported economic development.

He said security would be treated as a fundamental responsibility of the government, adding that the proposed ADC administration would work towards creating an environment where residents could live and conduct their businesses without fear.

The ADC running mate said the party would also ensure that the government listened to residents and respected their dignity, stressing that public office should be regarded as a trust rather than personal property.

He declared that he and Alagbe would not mortgage their conscience for political convenience or surrender the future of Oyo State to fear, intimidation or the politics of entitlement.

“We are men who are born free and will die free. No power, no money and no political office can turn us into slaves,” he said.

Aborisade urged youth not to give up on Oyo State, assuring them that the ADC would seek to create an environment where their talents could flourish.

He also appealed to women, farmers, artisans, traders, professionals, workers, students, pensioners and business owners to support the party’s vision, saying their concerns would form a central part of its agenda.

“To our young people, I say: do not give up on Oyo State. This is your state. Your future is here, and together we will create an environment where your talent can flourish,” he said.

The historian also solicited the support of traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society organisations, professional bodies and other stakeholders in building what he described as a new Oyo State.

He acknowledged that the road to the 2027 election would be challenging but said the ADC was prepared to work towards what he called “genuine development.”

Aborisade said the party’s ambition went beyond winning an election, stressing that its ultimate objective was to restore hope and give residents reasons to believe in the future of the state.

“This is not just about winning an election. It is about winning a better future for our people. It is about restoring hope. It is about giving every citizen a reason to believe again,” he said.

He urged ADC members and supporters to demonstrate that politics could still be driven by principles, ideas and service to humanity.

“The real revolutionaries are here,” Aborisade declared, expressing confidence that the party would deliver positive change in Oyo State if given the mandate in 2027.