Aisha Yesufu has alleged that the process that produced the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial seat was manipulated and did not reflect a genuine primary election.
In a statement posted on X on Friday, the activist-turned-politician said the exercise was a “predetermined outcome dressed in procedural formalities”.
On Friday, ALO 360 reported that Yesufu withdrew from the race amid allegations that the party had settled for Amanda Pam, who was said to have been in the party before Yesufu joined from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Reacting to the development, Yesufu said she neither quit nor dropped out of the race.
“As the dust settles on the NDC primaries, I want to set the record straight: I did not quit, I did not drop out of the race. I stayed to the end,” she said.
The activist alleged that party guidelines were not followed and that the process was altered midway.
“What was billed as a primary was, in truth, a predetermined outcome dressed in procedural formalities,” she said.
“The primaries were repeatedly postponed. Venues were changed at the last minute. Guidelines of the party were not followed.”
Yesufu claimed that the direct primary outlined by the party was replaced with a delegate-based process conducted at a central location.
“Delegate-based process was introduced to be conducted at a central location instead of the direct primaries to be conducted at local government headquarters,” she said.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
She further alleged that the eventual outcome was decided behind closed doors.
“When the moment came, the contest was not decided by delegates in the open; it was affirmed in a closed room, away from the people whose voices it was supposed to reflect,” she said.
Despite her grievances, Yesufu said she would not challenge the outcome through litigation.
“I did not intend to litigate a process that was never truly allowed to happen,” she said.
“I ran to win. But when the process was subverted, I made a choice: I would not exhaust myself in a grievance process designed to wear people down.”
The activist added that she remains committed to the NDC and its broader political objective ahead of the 2027 elections.
“For now, despite its shortcomings, the NDC remains the only party that has given the better presidential candidate in the 2027 electoral cycle a platform to run,” she said.
She also maintained that the experience had strengthened her understanding of the political process.
“I leave this process with something far more valuable than a ticket; I leave with clarity,” she said.
