Debates about who truly holds power in Nigeria, who speaks for the people, and what leadership should look like are once again dominating the national conversation as the country edges closer to the 2027 general election.
Speaking on this week’s edition of The Mic On Podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, political activist and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, Aisha Yesufu, delivers a blunt assessment of Nigeria’s political condition, the ruling APC, and the opposition’s path to power. Her remarks span governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the growing influence of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the prospects of Peter Obi in the next presidential election.
Yesufu opens with a scathing verdict on the state of leadership, insisting that the country is adrift, arguing that the absence of direction is evident in everyday governance. She maintains that public frustration cuts across all regions and is driven by lived experience rather than partisan loyalty.
“Nigeria does not have a president. For me, there’s no leadership and Nigerians have seen it.”
On her decision to align with the ADC coalition, Yesufu framed it as a strategic, not emotional choice, she rejects accusations of hypocrisy, noting that politics is transactional and goal-driven, and not sentimental, “If I had joined the APC, that’s when those who think I’m hypocritical can say so. Politics is not a love affair… I may not like you, but we have a common goal to have a Nigeria that works for everybody.”
She describes the ADC as a viable platform capable of confronting the ruling party, saying the coalition is sufficiently united to pose a serious challenge in 2027. While she admits her entry into the ADC was partly influenced by Peter Obi, she insists her loyalty is to competence and accountability. “I believe the ADC as it is currently structured, is sufficiently united to defeat the APC. She calls further for wider participation within the party. “To an extent, I joined the ADC because of Peter Obi.”
Yesufu reserved her strongest endorsement for the former Anambra State governor, portraying Obi as the most credible opposition figure, adding that while the APC cannot be outspent, it can be outmatched in public energy. For her, the choice is settled. “In Peter Obi, I see someone who has competence, character and capacity. There is nobody that can outspend the APC… Peter Obi is the only person that can out-passion them. For me, it’s Obi and Obi (in 2027).”
Addressing concerns about Obi’s appeal in the North, Yesufu dismisses them outright. She describes claims that he cannot secure northern votes as “a fallacy,” arguing that the region is more politically conscious than it is often portrayed. “The north is not listening to that anymore,” she says, pointing to growing anger over his governance and exclusion. “There is anger in the Northern region with the way he has treated them. They are waiting for him at the ballot.”
On defections to the APC and President Tinubu’s re-election chances, Yesufu predicts turbulence rather than consolidation. She insisted that many governors who have crossed over lack grassroots support and foresees internal fractures within the ruling party. “As we go into 2027, there’s going to be a huge implosion in the APC. There is no chance for Tinubu to win the 2027 election. I don’t see that happening.”
Still, she maintains that the ultimate test lies in the integrity of the process. While she accuses the APC of governing through fear of defeat rather than popular mandate, for Yesufu, the stakes are existential: her leadership must be competent, inclusive, and fit for the future Nigeria hopes to secure—not just for this generation, but for those yet unborn.
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