Prominent activist and political figure Aisha Yesufu has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) of breaching provisions of the Electoral Act in the process that led to the emergence of the party’s candidate for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senate seat ahead of the 2027 general elections. Her allegations have sparked fresh debate about internal democracy within political parties and the transparency of candidate selection processes in Nigeria.
The controversy emerged shortly after the NDC announced that it would not conduct primary elections for the FCT senatorial ticket, a decision that effectively ended Yesufu’s ambition to contest under the party’s platform. The activist, who recently defected from the African Democratic Congress to the NDC and declared her intention to seek the FCT Senate seat, expressed disappointment over the development, arguing that the process violated established electoral guidelines and undermined democratic principles.
According to Yesufu, the decision to forgo a primary election deprived party members of the opportunity to freely choose their preferred candidate. She maintained that political parties must adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act and uphold fairness, transparency, and accountability in their internal affairs. The activist stated that while she entered partisan politics fully aware of the challenges involved, she was unwilling to compromise her principles or participate in what she described as an unjust process. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The former Bring Back Our Girls campaigner noted that her political journey was driven by a commitment to advocacy and good governance rather than personal ambition. She emphasized that her entry into politics was an extension of her activism and that she intended to remain committed to the values of integrity, justice, and democratic participation regardless of the outcome of the senatorial race.
The dispute comes amid reports that speculation had been growing within the party that the senatorial ticket would be handed to another aspirant, Amanda Pam, who had been a member of the NDC before Yesufu joined the party. Although party officials have yet to publicly respond in detail to the allegations, the development has intensified discussions about the conduct of party primaries and the need for political parties to strengthen internal democratic processes as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Yesufu had earlier launched an energetic campaign for the FCT Senate seat, conducting consultations across Abuja’s area councils and urging supporters to participate actively in the party’s primary process. Her sudden withdrawal from the race following the party’s decision not to hold primaries has therefore come as a surprise to many observers who viewed her as one of the most prominent aspirants in the contest.
Despite her disappointment, Yesufu called on her supporters to remain calm and focused on the broader goal of building a stronger democratic culture in Nigeria. She insisted that the struggle for accountable leadership and credible political processes must continue beyond any individual election or political contest. Her allegations against the NDC are likely to generate further scrutiny of party procedures and could reignite national conversations about electoral reforms, internal democracy, and the role of political parties in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
