Yesufu cries foul over NDC primaries, says process was rigged, predetermined

Aisha Yesufu has alleged that she was effectively rigged out of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial primaries in the Federal Capital Territory, insisting that the process was manipulated and lacked transparency.

In a detailed statement following the exercise, Yesufu maintained that she neither withdrew nor abandoned the race but stayed until the end despite what she described as a flawed process.

Yesufu said the primaries were “predetermined” and did not follow the party’s established guidelines.

According to her, the process was repeatedly postponed, with venues changed at short notice, creating confusion among participants. She also claimed that the party abandoned its earlier plan for direct primaries at local government levels and instead introduced a delegate-based system to be conducted at a central location.

She further alleged that the contest was ultimately not decided through an open voting process.

“What was billed as a primary was, in truth, a predetermined outcome dressed in procedural formalities,” she said.

“When the moment came, the contest was not decided by delegates in the open; it was affirmed in a closed room.”

Yesufu argued that these actions undermined fairness and transparency, adding that official claims of a free and fair process did not reflect what transpired.

Despite her allegations, Yesufu said she chose not to pursue legal action or formally challenge the outcome.

“I ran to win, but when the process was subverted, I made a choice not to exhaust myself in a grievance process designed to wear people down,” she stated.

Instead, she said she opted to draw lessons from the experience, noting that participating in the process gave her deeper insight into the political system.

“That knowledge is worth more than any petition I could have filed,” she added.

Yesufu, who joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections, said her campaign was built on grassroots mobilisation and volunteer engagement across Abuja, describing it as a “people-powered movement.”

While acknowledging internal shortcomings within the party, she said the NDC remains a platform for what she described as a credible presidential alternative.

She also announced plans to continue her political engagement under a new initiative tagged “A Better Abuja 2031,” signalling her intention to remain active in the FCT’s political space.