Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu has dismissed reports that she withdrew from the race for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial seat under the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement posted on her verified X account, Yesufu clarified that she remained in the contest until the end and did not voluntarily step aside from the race.

According to her, she chose not to challenge the outcome in court because, in her view, the process was never fully allowed to take place.

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“As the dust settles on the NDC Primaries, I want to set the record straight: I did not quit, I did not drop out of the race,” she noted.

Yesufu explained that her entry into partisan politics was driven by a desire to contribute directly to the changes she had long advocated for, insisting that meaningful transformation requires active participation in the political process.

“I understood what I was getting into. I knew that the quality of our politics has not yet risen to the occasion, that values-based candidates do not easily emerge by merit in a system built to resist them,” she said.

She maintained that throughout the campaign, she remained committed to her principles and refused to compromise her values for political advantage.

“But I made a decision going in. I would not compromise my values. I would stand for what is right. I did not leave advocacy to go into politics. I took advocacy into politics,” she added.

Reflecting on her campaign, Yesufu said she was proud of the effort made by her team, describing it as a grassroots-driven movement built on credibility and genuine engagement with residents.

“I ran a campaign I am truly proud of. Our ground game was on point. We had grassroots credibility, the kind you don’t manufacture in a backroom,” she said.

Her clarification comes amid widespread speculation over her status in the NDC senatorial contest following the party’s primary election process in the Federal Capital Territory.