Rights Activist and senatorial aspirant under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, (NDC), Aisha Yesufu has said her ambition to represent the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate is driven by a desire to solve problems and amplify the voices of residents, rather than engage in political confrontations.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, the activist-turned-politician stated that her primary responsibility, if elected, would be to ensure that the concerns of FCT residents are addressed and translated into practical solutions through effective representation.
“I’m seeking for constitutional authority to then be able to not just make demands but be able to be part of the solution to the problems that we face in our own country. I think the most important thing about governance or being in office for me, being a Senator of the FCT, is not picking a fight with anyone. At the end of the day, my business is not to go and be fighting the Minister of FCT. I don’t have a business with picking a fight with anyone. My business is for me to represent my people and be their voice and ensure that every problem that they have is brought to the front burner, and not just put in the front burner, but it’s also solved,” she stated.
Reacting to the figures announced after the APC presidential primary, Yesufu dismissed the reported turnout as unbelievable, arguing that the numbers did not reflect reality.
“It’s just a joke. I believe that’s what people just keep making, and that’s what’s been done there because the numbers that were bandied out—just don’t make sense,” she said.
Yesufu also claimed the APC is trying to project strength despite growing public dissatisfaction, arguing that the figures announced were intended to boost confidence rather than reflect genuine support.
“I think that’s what I see the APC doing, and they’re trying to bolster—maybe feel a confidence that’s not there. But I can assure you, and a lot of Nigerians do know that, the APC has been rejected. People are not interested; they don’t even want to see them. And so numbers can come out from anywhere,” she claimed.
Yesufu rejected suggestions that she blindly follows Peter Obi, stressing that he is not her political godfather but a leader she supports because of his perceived commitment to good governance, accountability, and transparency.
“I don’t have a godfather. He’s not my godfather. He’s a principal. I gave my words to Peter Obi, and I see him right now as that person who has the empathy, who is patriotic enough and who cares enough about Nigeria for him to work for Nigeria,” she explained.
The activist-turned-politician maintained that entering politics does not mean abandoning activism. Rather, she said she intends to bring her advocacy experience into public office, particularly in holding the executive arm of government accountable if elected to represent the FCT in the Senate.
“I’m not leaving advocacy or activism into politics—I’m not. I’m taking advocacy and activism into politics. Because for me, as a lawmaker, if I get voted in by the grace of God, my number one business is holding the executive accountable,” she stated.
Reaffirming her support for Peter Obi, Yesufu said her loyalty is rooted in shared principles of good governance, accountability, and transparency, stressing that she would still hold him accountable if he failed to uphold those values.
“I’m a Peter Obi supporter and it’s not because of my ambition; it’s because of the person that he is. My business is to focus on getting someone that I feel is going to do everything to give Nigeria good governance, accountability, and transparency for him to be there.
“If Mr. Peter Obi does something that is not right, I will stand—he knows that—holding him accountable. So it’s not about following someone or having a godfather or whatever. I’m a supporter as long as he aligns with what works for a better Nigeria and giving us good governance, accountability, and transparency,” Yesufu maintained.
Speaking on party primaries, Yesufu called for transparent, credible, and violence-free internal elections, saying recent disputes show the need for better accountability and order.
“One of the biggest things I’m taking away is the kind of primaries that have happened. So having a primary that is free, fair, credible, and one that is sane—and one that people who know how to count. And let’s give Nigerians a breath of fresh air where they see accountability, sanity being displayed,” she stressed.
She added that her immediate focus remains securing the ticket of the NDC, noting that she is actively campaigning within the party ahead of its primaries.
“For me, my focus, as much as I’ve seen what is happening, is not to focus too much on who are the candidates. For my own sake, it’s to focus on how do I emerge as the flag-bearer of my own party, because there are other contestants.”
She expressed confidence in the party’s leadership, saying the NDC’s approach to internal democracy reflects a commitment to political reform and could offer Nigerians a more credible alternative going forward.
“I have confidence in the fact that the Nigeria Democratic Congress, in the leadership and the way they have handled their affairs, wanting to make that difference, be that difference, and give Nigerians a reason to smile again,” she said.
Speaking on insecurity in Nigeria, particularly school kidnappings, Yesufu said the recurring attacks reflect governance failure and growing public desensitisation to violence, warning that protecting lives remains the government’s primary responsibility.
“The primary responsibility of any government is the protection of life and properties, and any government that does not protect the lives and properties of its citizen is not fit to be called a government,” Yesufu maintained.
Commending the troops for rescuing kidnapped civilians in Borno State, Yesufu questioned the transparency of such operations and called for clearer identification and verification of those rescued.
“Well done to the troops rescuing these hostages, kidnapped victims. Where is the accountability? For the first time, do we have this rescue start? Who are they? Are they really rescued? Because we’ve seen the Nigerian Army has recanted so many statements that you get to a place, unfortunately, which is not supposed to be—you begin to distrust them. Do we really have all this, or is it just to put something out and pacify the public?”, she questioned.
The NDC senatorial aspirant also renewed calls for a national missing persons register to track abducted individuals, insisting that Nigerians deserve accurate data on rescue operations and ongoing cases. According to her, the absence of such systems continues to fuel uncertainty and public frustration over insecurity in the country.
“One of the things that we’ve asked for, even as a movement, was that there should be a missing person register. Since 2015, we’ve been demanding for this; it hasn’t gotten anywhere. So that every Nigerian that is abducted, there should be a register, and if that person is rescued, we should know who it is that was rescued. Now you have numbers: 92 were rescued. Who are they? When were they abducted? How many more do we have out there? How many more are they looking for? All we want in Nigeria is for people to be safe,” she stressed.
Commenting on the opposition’s fragmentation, she said fragmentation is not a setback, noting that unity can still be achieved later through negotiation.
“There was an Ibadan summit that had happened where it was said that opposition would put forth one candidate. And as we go on that state of possibility, it was never said that a particular party is going to field a candidate. And I think what has happened, in a way, is a good thing. In a way, let everybody be out there. Let them all work out and get their presidential ticket. When they do that, they can always come to the round table.
“I totally agree with the fact that, you know, working together in synergy is an easier way to be able to defeat whoever it is that is sitting on the seat, but that is not the only way, and you can always get to the end point,” she insisted.
Favour Odima
