By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) — Human rights activist and politician, Aisha Yesufu, has broken her silence following the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries, insisting that she neither withdrew from the contest nor abandoned her senatorial ambition, despite emerging without the party’s ticket.
In a statement posted on her X account after the conclusion of the primaries on Friday, Yesufu said she remained in the race until the end but chose not to challenge the outcome in court, maintaining that the people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) deserved to know her side of the story.
According to her, her decision to contest was driven by a conviction that meaningful national transformation requires participation in the political process and not merely advocacy from outside government.
“I did not leave advocacy to go into politics. I took advocacy into politics,” she stated, adding that she entered the race fully aware of the challenges facing values-driven candidates in Nigeria’s political environment.
Yesufu described her campaign as grassroots-driven and people-centred, saying it enjoyed strong volunteer support across communities in Abuja. She credited the campaign’s success to a network of supporters who mobilised voters and promoted her candidacy across wards and local communities.
However, she alleged that the primary election process failed to meet expectations of transparency and fairness. According to her, repeated postponements, last-minute venue changes, and deviations from party guidelines undermined the credibility of the exercise.
She claimed that a delegate-based process was introduced in place of the direct primaries initially expected and alleged that the eventual outcome was determined through a closed-door affirmation rather than an open contest.
“What was billed as a primary was, in truth, a predetermined outcome dressed in procedural formalities,” she said.
Despite her reservations, Yesufu said she would not pursue legal action, explaining that she preferred to focus on the lessons gained from participating in the process rather than engaging in a prolonged dispute.
She noted that the experience had provided her with a deeper understanding of Nigeria’s political system, describing the knowledge acquired as more valuable than any petition she could have filed.
The activist clarified that her account related specifically to the FCT senatorial primary and should not be interpreted as a reflection of the conduct of NDC primaries in other states.
While criticising aspects of the process, Yesufu reaffirmed her support for the NDC, describing it as the platform that has provided what she called a credible presidential alternative for the 2027 elections.
She expressed appreciation to party members working toward reform from within and maintained that political transformation would require efforts both inside and outside existing political structures.
Looking ahead, Yesufu insisted that the movement built during her campaign remains intact and that the networks, grassroots support, and credibility established throughout the race would continue to shape her political engagement.
“This is not the end,” she declared, expressing confidence that a better future for Abuja remains achievable.
The forces that tried to silence this movement have only confirmed its potency.
I am not going anywhere. And neither is the idea that Abuja deserves better.
For #ABetterAbuja2031 is born. Abuja Indigene and Residents, are you ready?
Regards
Aisha Yesufu.
Former FCT Senatorial Aspirant (2027)
