Prominent activist and social commentator Aisha Yesufu has officially withdrawn from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial race for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), bringing an early end to her bid ahead of the 2027 general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

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has rated the security performance of the administration of President Bola Tinubu at between 65 and 70 percent, stating that while terrorism has reduced in some areas, kidnapping particularly of schoolchildren remains a major concern.

Speaking in a social media statement marking three years of the current administration, Musa said security forces have recorded significant gains against terrorism but acknowledged that abductions continue to pose serious challenges across the country.

He further argued that kidnapping is not only a security issue but also a reflection of declining societal and family values, urging Nigerians to reject “get-rich-quick” mentalities that may encourage criminal behaviour.

His remarks come amid renewed concern over a series of school kidnappings recorded between May 13 and May 15, during which at least 82 pupils were abducted in separate incidents across Borno State and Oyo State.

The Oyo incident was particularly deadly, involving the killing of a teacher, a motorcyclist, and a security operative who reportedly died after encountering explosives planted by the attackers.

Security authorities have linked the Oyo attack to the JAS terror faction, which has reportedly been pushed out of several regions following sustained military operations.

Recent data from Amnesty International indicates that more than 1,100 abductions were recorded within the first four months of 2026 alone, highlighting the scale of insecurity affecting parts of the country. Similar mass kidnapping incidents were also reported in Kogi State in April, as well as in Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara states in late 2025.

Despite these challenges, the Defence Minister pointed to some operational successes, including the reported killing of a senior ISIS-linked commander, as evidence of improved military effectiveness.

He also noted increased cooperation between Nigeria and international partners, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, and Turkey, who have provided support in equipment and intelligence sharing.

Musa cautioned that allowing terrorism to become deeply entrenched in any country makes it extremely difficult to eradicate, citing Turkey’s decades-long struggle with insurgency as an example of how prolonged conflict can evolve.

He added that sustained collaboration between security agencies and citizens remains critical to improving national security outcomes.

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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