Aisha Yesufu explains why she rejected a House of Representatives ticket, saying she refused political conditions that conflicted with her principles
Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu has explained why she declined a House of Representatives ticket offered to her by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Also read: APC Sets Up Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign Council, Names Yari DG
Yesufu disclosed her decision during an interview with Symfoni TV, saying she rejected the offer because accepting it would have required her to agree to conditions that conflicted with her principles.
The prominent activist said several political offers came with expectations about what she would have to do in return, but she was unwilling to compromise her values simply to secure political power.
“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 explained that the offers she received were not presented without conditions.
“There were many issues where many people brought, ‘I will make you this but you have to do A, B, C, D.’ It’s pretty obvious,” she said.
For Yesufu, the decision appears to reflect a broader position she has maintained throughout her public activism: political participation should not require the surrender of personal convictions.
She also rejected the idea that political power should be pursued at any cost, arguing that those seeking public office should not be driven by an unwillingness to walk away from opportunities that come with unacceptable conditions.
Her comments come as political parties and aspirants begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with the search for credible candidates expected to intensify across constituencies.
Yesufu has been a prominent voice on governance, accountability and citizens’ participation in public affairs. Her decision to turn down the NDC offer places renewed attention on the tension between political ambition and the principles candidates are unwilling to compromise.
The activist made clear that she does not believe power should be something a person pursues by force.
“People do not seek power by force,” she said, stressing that she was not prepared to compromise her integrity for political office.
Her decision also raises a wider question about the price of political participation in Nigeria, where candidates can face competing expectations from parties, political networks and supporters.
For Yesufu, however, the opportunity to enter the National Assembly was not sufficient reason to accept conditions she considered incompatible with her principles.
Also read: Wike Makes Bold Claim on Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace, her position offers a notable example of an individual choosing to remain outside an electoral contest rather than enter it on terms she is unwilling to accept.
