By Opeyemi Adelakun
Human rights activist and co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls campaign, Aisha Yesufu, has explained why she rejected a House of Representatives ticket offered to her by the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yesufu said she declined the offer because she was unwilling to compromise her principles or accept political conditions that conflicted with her values.
Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV, she said she had received political offers tied to certain conditions but chose not to accept them because she was not prepared to sacrifice her integrity for political office.
According to her, political power should not be pursued at all costs, adding that public office seekers should not make promises they know they cannot fulfil.
“I did not accept the House of Representatives ticket that was given to me because there were other people who were doing it on the issue of principle,” Yesufu said.
She stressed that the interest of Nigeria should take precedence over individual political ambitions, insisting that she was not desperate to become president or occupy any political office.
“We are not going to sell Nigeria. I don’t have to be president by force. We won’t make any promises that we will not fulfil,” she added.
Her decision followed an earlier disclosure by former Bayelsa State governor and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had offered Yesufu the House of Representatives ticket.
Yesufu had previously contested for the party’s senatorial ticket but lost the nomination to Amanda Pam.
The activist also urged Nigerians to view election day as an opportunity to bring about political change through the ballot rather than violence or extra-constitutional means.
She argued that credible elections would give citizens a peaceful avenue to replace leaders and influence the direction of the country.
Yesufu, however, criticised Nigeria’s electoral process, arguing that the Independent National Electoral Commission should not be viewed as the sole problem.
She said greater attention should be paid to the individuals responsible for implementing the electoral process, including electoral officials and security personnel.
She cited discrepancies between the results of the 2023 presidential election and those recorded in National Assembly elections as among the issues that had raised concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
Yesufu urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand that all stakeholders involved in elections adhere to democratic principles and electoral rules.
“There is no better day for revolution than election day,” she said, advocating the use of the ballot as a means of demanding accountability.
She said citizens could collectively participate in the electoral process and ensure that their votes were properly counted and reflected in the final results.
Yesufu further warned that Nigerians should not leave the credibility of elections entirely to INEC, stressing the need for citizens to demand compliance with electoral regulations.
She called on public officials, electoral personnel and security agencies deployed for elections to discharge their responsibilities professionally and ensure that electoral outcomes reflect the choices of voters.
According to her, free, fair and credible elections remain critical to preventing political frustration and potential unrest in the country.
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