Aisha Yesufu urges Peter Obi’s supporters to protect themselves against alleged political attacks ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain and socio-political activist Aisha Yesufu has urged supporters of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to be prepared to protect themselves against alleged attacks by suspected political thugs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Yesufu made the call in a video shared on her official X account, where she criticised what she described as the failure of security agencies to protect citizens and urged opposition supporters not to remain passive when confronted with attacks.
According to Daily Post, Obi’s supporters have reportedly faced attacks in Delta, Benue, Enugu and other states as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
Yesufu argued that political supporters should be able to defend themselves if the authorities fail to provide adequate protection.
“Courtesy is not a strategy when you are fighting tyrants. It is as simple as that,” she said.
She also claimed that the popularity of a political candidate should make attacks on supporters unnecessary, adding that those confident in their electoral prospects should focus on presenting their records to voters.
During the video, Yesufu called on Obi’s supporters to respond firmly to attacks, referring to remarks she attributed to an Enugu governorship candidate.
“I like the way the Enugu gubernatorial candidate put it, he said don’t attack anyone, but if they attack you, attack back,” she said.
She further declared: “If they are coming to attack you, attack back. Make everybody understand that if they want peace, we all have to be prepared for war.”
Her remarks come amid wider concerns about political intimidation and the safety of opposition supporters as parties prepare for the 2027 polls.
However, the allegations of attacks cited in the report should be distinguished from independently verified incidents, and the remarks reflect Yesufu’s position on how supporters should respond to threats.
Yesufu has previously called for stronger measures to protect votes and improve transparency during the electoral process.
In September 2026, she said the NDC intended to deploy election agents to monitor voting and the movement of results from polling units through the collation process, arguing that supporters should remain vigilant throughout the exercise.
Her latest comments place renewed attention on the safety of political supporters as campaigns and mobilisation efforts build towards the next general election.
While political participation and the right to personal safety remain important concerns, threats and attacks should be addressed through lawful means, including reporting incidents to the authorities and seeking protection.
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The NDC and other political parties are expected to face growing scrutiny over how they protect their supporters and promote peaceful participation in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
