Prominent human rights activist Aisha Yesufu has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), announcing that her move is a strategic shift to channel her advocacy directly into partisan politics for better governance, accountability, and transparency in Nigeria.
The announcement came on Monday in Abuja as Yesufu completed her formal membership registration with the party.
She stressed that real national transformation requires active political engagement.
“Politics is how you bring in the people who bring good governance. If we do not participate in politics, we will continue to be at the mercy of those who get in, who are not supposed to get in in the first place,” Yesufu said.
Far from muting her voice, she insisted that joining the ADC would amplify her advocacy within the political arena.
“I am not leaving advocacy; I am taking advocacy into politics. My voice will never be shut down,” she assured.
Admitting trepidation about the step, Yesufu described it as a frightening but essential path.
“I am very nervous. I am embarking on a journey that scares me. But courage is not the absence of fear; it is moving forward in spite of fear,” she stated.
Reflecting on her activism, Yesufu recalled a personal pledge on her 48th birthday in December 2013 to dedicate 40 years to serving Nigeria.
“I realized that I was also part of Nigeria’s problem, and I made a covenant with God to dedicate my life to this country,” she explained.
Her involvement in the Bring Back Our Girls campaign after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction deepened her commitment, but by 2018, she concluded that staying outside party structures limited meaningful change.
“We cannot stay outside and wait until candidates emerge before deciding who to support. Being inside the political system is where real democracy begins,” she said.
Yesufu revealed she had never been a card-carrying member of any party until now, crediting her decision to former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, who recently aligned with the ADC.
“When my leader called, I answered. Mr. Peter Obi will not walk alone,” she declared.
The activist pushed for greater affirmative action in political parties, urging the ADC to exceed its current 35 per cent inclusion policy.
“We can do 50 per cent and above. There is nothing wrong with that,” she said.
Yesufu also rallied FCT residents to vote in the upcoming Area Council elections on February 21, 2026, noting that local governance directly impacts daily services like waste disposal and sanitation.
“The area councils affect our everyday living… We must not ignore these elections,” she emphasised.
She expressed optimism that the ADC could turn the FCT into a national governance model through sacrifice and prioritising Nigeria.
“FCT can become the model for Nigeria. This is the time to sacrifice, to act, and to put Nigeria first,” she concluded.
Earlier, FCT ADC Chairman Yusuf Tijani welcomed Yesufu, reaffirming the party’s focus on unity and grassroots leadership.
He described the ADC as a “new handshake” for Nigeria, rooted in love, peace, and non-divisive politics.
“ADC is the party that will bring Nigeria together. We do not operate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or tribe. That is the only way Nigeria can move forward,” Tijani said.
He portrayed the party as an institution for nurturing responsible, people-centred leaders, criticising post-1999 governance failures as products of selfish leadership.
Tijani highlighted recent high-profile defections to the ADC, including a serving senator, as evidence of its growing appeal.
“We build leaders in ADC. A leader who does not take care of his people is not a leader,” he stated.
