Prominent activist and social commentator Aisha Yesufu has officially withdrawn from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial race for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), bringing an early end to her bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yesufu announced her decision in a statement released on Friday, explaining that the party had resolved not to conduct primaries for the senatorial seat in the FCT, although it would proceed with primaries for House of Representatives positions within the territory.

According to her, the internal party decision made it necessary for her to step aside from the contest.

“Our party has decided not to conduct primaries for the senatorial seat in FCT Abuja. It however intends to conduct primaries for House of Representatives. Go ahead and make your choice known,” she stated.

Her withdrawal comes amid ongoing political realignments within opposition circles as parties reposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

From Activism to Politics

For years, Yesufu built a strong public reputation as one of Nigeria’s most outspoken activists, playing key roles in movements such as #BringBackOurGirls and the #EndSARS protests.

In May 2026, she formally announced her intention to contest the FCT senatorial seat, arguing that activism should extend into legislative governance rather than remain limited to civic protests.

Her entry into partisan politics was widely seen as a shift from street-level advocacy to institutional engagement aimed at driving reform from within the system.

Political Alignment With Peter Obi Movement

Yesufu’s political activities in recent years have been closely linked to former presidential candidate Peter Obi, under whose 2023 campaign she became one of the most visible supporters of the Labour Party’s reform agenda.

She played a prominent role in mobilising support for the “Obidient” movement and later aligned with broader opposition coalitions ahead of 2027.

Although she has moved across different political platforms, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress, she has consistently maintained that her support is based on principles of accountability and good governance rather than blind loyalty.

Senate Ambition and Grassroots Push

Following her defection to the NDC, Yesufu officially declared interest in the FCT senatorial seat and embarked on grassroots consultations across area councils within the territory.

Her campaign focused on issues such as security, education, healthcare, and improved representation for residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

Political analysts had described her candidacy as a test case for whether activist-driven popularity could translate into electoral success in Nigeria’s structured party system.

Speculation Over Party Dynamics

Her sudden withdrawal has sparked speculation about internal arrangements within the NDC, with suggestions that the party may have shifted support toward another aspirant believed to have stronger grassroots structures.

However, the party has not issued an official explanation regarding the decision.

Focus Shifts to 2027 Presidential Election

Despite stepping down from the senatorial race, Yesufu urged her supporters to remain focused on broader political goals ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“I urge each and every one of you to remain calm and focus on the bigger picture which is the presidential election. Nigeria will be OK,” she said.

She also expressed appreciation to supporters of her senatorial ambition and pledged continued engagement with residents across all six area councils in the FCT.

Her withdrawal underscores the complexities of Nigeria’s party politics, where activism, popularity, and grassroots political structures often intersect in unpredictable ways.

A fresh wave of protest has erupted in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) took to the streets to demand urgent action following the recent mass abduction of students and teachers in the state.

The protesters gathered at the busy Iwo Road axis in Ibadan, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages calling for the immediate rescue of the victims.

Many of them were heard shouting “bring back our children” and “no more bandits” as they marched through major parts of the city.

The protest is linked to the violent attack that occurred on May 15 in Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed men invaded schools and abducted more than 40 students and teachers.

The incident sparked widespread fear after reports confirmed that heavily armed kidnappers stormed the community and whisked away victims into nearby forests.

In the days that followed, disturbing footage reportedly released by the abductors surfaced online, showing victims being held in harsh conditions deep within the forest.

With no clear breakthrough in rescue efforts weeks after the incident, teachers from both primary and secondary schools across the state decided to stage a public demonstration to pressure authorities into taking stronger action.

The latest protest follows a similar demonstration held earlier by concerned residents who also demanded swift intervention over the ongoing kidnapping crisis in the state.

Authorities are yet to issue a fresh update on the status of the abducted victims as public pressure continues to mount.

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The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed widespread reports claiming that multiple residents were abducted in Abanla community and other parts of Ibadan, clarifying that only two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) were kidnapped.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, police spokesperson Olushola Ayanlade described the viral reports as false, misleading, and capable of causing panic among residents.

According to the command, no mass abduction incident was recorded anywhere in Ibadan or surrounding communities apart from the reported kidnapping involving the CRIN workers.

“The Command views the dissemination of such unverified and sensational reports as highly irresponsible and capable of creating unnecessary fear, panic and tension among residents,” the statement said.

The police also warned bloggers, media outlets, and social media users against publishing unverified security reports, stressing that false information could undermine ongoing security operations and divert attention from genuine emergencies.

Two Suspects Arrested

Ayanlade disclosed that two suspects connected to the abduction had already been arrested by security operatives.

He explained that the police received a distress report at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday from the chief security officer of CRIN through the Idi-Ayunre Divisional Police Headquarters.

Preliminary investigations revealed that about six armed men invaded the area and abducted two staff members of the institute before taking them to an unknown location.

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Olugbemiga, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence teams, including operatives from the anti-kidnapping squad.

Security teams subsequently launched coordinated bush-combing and search operations across nearby forest areas believed to be linked to the kidnappers.

Police Operatives Repel Gunfire Attack

During one of the operations carried out on May 20, 2026, police operatives reportedly intercepted two suspicious individuals identified as Shehu and Abubakar.

According to the police statement, the suspects initially agreed to lead officers to the hideout of the kidnapping syndicate.

However, while approaching the location, armed men suspected to be members of the gang allegedly opened fire on the police team.

The operatives responded to the attack and successfully repelled the gunmen while safely extracting the two suspects from the scene.

The suspects are currently being held by the anti-kidnapping squad as investigations continue and efforts intensify to rescue the abducted victims.