Activist cites party’s decision to forgo senatorial primaries; urges supporters to stay engaged ahead of 2027 elections

Human rights activist and politician, Aisha Yesufu, has withdrawn from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial race under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yesufu, who had earlier declared her intention to contest for the FCT Senate seat, announced her decision following reports that the party would not conduct primaries for the position.

In a statement shared on her X (formerly Twitter) account, she informed her supporters that while the NDC would proceed with primaries for House of Representatives positions, it had opted not to hold a senatorial primary for the FCT.

She called on her supporters to remain calm and continue participating in the political process, stressing the importance of sustained civic engagement as the 2027 elections approach.

Yesufu also expressed gratitude to her supporters across the six area councils of the FCT, noting that she would maintain consultations and grassroots involvement despite stepping down from the race.

The development comes amid reports of internal disagreements within the party, particularly over alleged moves to adopt consensus arrangements for candidate selection. However, the NDC has yet to issue an official statement confirming the claims.

A video circulating online further captured some party members questioning the leadership’s decisions regarding candidate selection ahead of the primaries.