Aisha Yesufu, human rights activist and a member of the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC), says Nyesom Wike is not a factor in her bid to represent the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate.
Yesufu spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
The activist is seeking the senatorial ticket of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.
During the interview, the host suggested that Wike could influence politics in the FCT because of his involvement in council elections.
Reacting, Yesufu dismissed the suggestion, describing the minister as a political appointee.
“I don’t have a Wike to contend with, because that’s an appointee,” she said.
“I’m not in the business of appointment.”
She said her immediate focus is on securing the NDC senatorial ticket before talking about the general election.
“First of all, the main focus here is my ticket, the primaries,” she said.
“Yes, Senator Philip Aduda and Senator Ireti Kingibe are there, but right now I’m an aspirant, so my focus is in my party.”
Yesufu appealed to residents of Abuja to participate in the party primaries and support her candidacy.
“Please go out there and vote for me. Stand behind me,” she said.
She added that many people often assume popular aspirants already have victory secured and fail to mobilise support.
“Sometimes people feel that, oh, I’m sure you’ve gotten it already,” she said.
“And then they don’t put in the effort to come out because they think someone else will do it.”
The activist said she wants to offer Abuja residents “a viable option” they can believe in and support passionately.
