May 30, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel Political Desk
Human rights activist and former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial aspirant, Aisha Yesufu, has alleged that the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) senatorial primary election in Abuja was manipulated and predetermined, claiming the outcome was decided behind closed doors rather than by party delegates.
In a statement titled “On the Record: NDC Primaries… A Better Abuja Is Inevitable,” Yesufu dismissed reports suggesting that she withdrew from the race, insisting she remained a candidate until the conclusion of the exercise.
“I did not quit, I did not drop out of the race. I stayed to the end,” she stated.
The activist alleged that the primary election process was marred by irregularities, including repeated postponements, last-minute venue changes, and alterations to procedures originally communicated to aspirants and party members.
According to her, what was expected to be a transparent democratic contest eventually transformed into a delegate-based exercise that failed to reflect the will of party members.
“What was billed as a primary was, in truth, a predetermined outcome dressed in procedural formalities,” Yesufu alleged.
She further claimed that the final decision was reached away from public scrutiny, arguing that the contest was effectively settled in a closed-door meeting rather than through an open voting process.
Despite her dissatisfaction with the outcome, Yesufu revealed that she would not challenge the result in court or pursue prolonged internal disputes within the party.
Instead, she said the experience had given her deeper insight into Nigeria’s political system and strengthened her commitment to political participation.
“I came into politics from a deep conviction that meaningful change requires active participation in governance and decision-making,” she said.
The activist also maintained that she did not abandon her advocacy principles upon entering politics.
“I did not leave advocacy to go into politics. I took advocacy into politics,” she added.
Yesufu expressed pride in what she described as a strong grassroots campaign across the Federal Capital Territory, praising volunteers and supporters who mobilised communities under her political movement.
She alleged that the popularity of her campaign may have contributed to efforts to move the process away from open competition.
Looking beyond the disputed primary election, Yesufu announced the launch of a new political initiative tagged #ABetterAbuja2031, signalling her intention to remain actively involved in shaping the future of governance in the nation’s capital.
“This is not the end. What we built—the network, the credibility, and the grassroots trust—cannot be taken away in a backroom,” she declared.
While criticising the conduct of the FCT primary election, Yesufu stressed that her comments were limited to her personal experience in Abuja and should not be interpreted as a verdict on NDC primary elections conducted in other states.
The development adds another layer of controversy to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape as parties continue preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
