Prominent Nigerian activist and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Aisha Yesufu, has revealed that she declined an offer to run for a seat in the House of Representatives due to deep-seated concerns regarding the integrity of the selection process…See More
Yesufu made the revelation during a public lecture on citizens’ participation in governance at Veritas University in Abuja on Thursday. According to the activist, the primary obstacle was the existence of approximately 20 other aspirants who had already invested significant time and financial resources into the bid.
She argued that accepting the ticket would have validated a system she considered flawed and unfair to those who had already followed the conventional nomination process.
“About 20 people had picked up forms for the ticket, and I was not going to be part of irregularities. I was not going to be part of that system even though it was going to benefit me,” Yesufu stated. “The reason I didn’t take it was because of the process. There were about 20 competent people from whom money had been collected during the process who would be shortchanged.”
She characterized the internal party arrangement as unjust, framing it as a matter of moral principle rather than political strategy. “The process was unjust; in my view, it was criminal. If we claim to be guided by the law, then why should we do something unjust?” she asked.
Reaffirming her commitment to her advocacy principles, Yesufu noted that she would prefer to lose while maintaining her integrity than to secure a position through a process she views as inequitable. “I have no problem with losing. I would rather stand with ordinary people than pursue titles and honours through an unfair process,” she asserted.
During the lecture, Yesufu also issued a broader call to action for the nation’s youth. She urged young Nigerians to increase their engagement in the political landscape, emphasizing that active citizenship must extend well beyond the act of casting a ballot on election day…See More
Be the first to comment