Human rights activist and former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial aspirant under the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has raised serious concerns about how the party’s primary election in Abuja was conducted.

In her account, she alleged that the process was not genuinely determined by delegates in an open and democratic manner, but rather concluded through decisions made behind closed doors.

She described the outcome as predetermined, insisting that what was presented as a primary election was effectively a formal procedure used to validate an already decided result.

According to her statement, the primary process suffered multiple irregularities, including repeated postponements, sudden changes of venue, and adjustments to agreed procedures without clear explanations to aspirants or party members.

She also claimed that the expected local government-level delegate arrangement was replaced with a centralised voting structure, which, in her view, weakened transparency and participation.

Despite her strong criticisms, Yesufu said she would not challenge the outcome in court, explaining that she did not want to engage in prolonged legal disputes she believed would not lead to meaningful change.She maintained that she remained in the race until the end and rejected claims that she withdrew voluntarily.

She further expressed pride in her grassroots campaign network across Abuja, which she described as a volunteer-driven movement under the banner “SAY-Nation.” She said the campaign demonstrated strong local support and credibility.

Looking ahead, she announced a continued political engagement through a broader movement aimed at improving governance in the FCT, called #ABetterAbuja2031.

While she criticised the primary process, she still acknowledged the NDC as a viable political platform and expressed support for its broader political direction, especially regarding its presidential candidate.However, she emphasised the need for internal reforms and greater transparency in future party processes.