Aisha Yesufu speaks during a television interview on her transition from activism into politics while reaffirming her senatorial ambition in the FCT.
Activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, says she will not abandon activism as she steps into politics, but will instead move her advocacy into formal governance structures.
She made this position clear on Thursday, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where she said her experience in activism pushed her to seek direct political power to drive solutions rather than only highlight problems.
#BringBackOurGirls movement
The #BringBackOurGirls movement emerged in April 2014 after Boko Haram militants abducted 276 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, Nigeria.
The movement began as a local protest in Abuja but quickly expanded into a global advocacy campaign after activists, parents of the abducted girls, and civil society groups demanded urgent government action. The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls spread rapidly across social media, drawing international attention from world leaders, celebrities, and human rights organisations.
The movement pressured the Nigerian government and international partners to intensify rescue efforts, improve security responses, and prioritize the fight against insurgency in the North-East. Over the years, some of the abducted girls have been rescued or released through negotiations, but many still remain missing.
Aisha YesufuYesufu explained that she now believes activism and politics serve the same goal of improving society, even though they operate through different mechanisms.
She said activists make demands while politicians are expected to implement solutions, but she noted that Nigerian politics often serves personal interests rather than the public good.
“I’m not leaving activism. I’m not leaving advocacy. I’m taking advocacy into politics,” she said.
She noted that she now seeks constitutional authority to turn advocacy into action through legislative work.
Yesufu said she realised in 2018 that constant advocacy without access to decision-making power limits real change, especially when public office holders ignore civic demands.
She explained that elected office gives her the legal authority to propose and enforce solutions rather than depend on the willingness of office holders to listen.
She said she now wants to move from pointing out problems to directly shaping policies that address them.
Yesufu also confirmed her intention to contest the senatorial seat in the Federal Capital Territory and said she will continue her advocacy even while pursuing political office.
She stressed that she does not see her political ambition as a departure from activism but as an extension of it.
She also reacted to discussions around political influence in Abuja and addressed concerns about the role of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
She said Abuja voters remain independent and make their electoral decisions without external control.
She insisted that no individual or political actor can impose candidates on residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
“There is no coronation in Abuja. It is the people who make those choices,” she said.
She also rejected any suggestion that she would engage in electoral malpractice, insisting that she will not steal or manipulate votes.
Yesufu said she will continue to operate within the law and accept legitimate electoral outcomes while challenging any attempt to subvert the will of the people.
She added that Abuja requires strong legislation focused on security, education, infrastructure, empowerment, accountability, and the protection of indigenous land rights.
She maintained that her political goal focuses on using lawmaking to improve governance and strengthen development outcomes in the Federal Capital Territory.
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