Activist and politician Aisha Yesufu has rejected reports suggesting that she withdrew from or stepped down in her party’s senatorial primary, insisting that she contested the race to its conclusion.
In a statement shared on X on Friday, Yesufu called on media organisations to correct what she described as “factually incorrect” headlines portraying her acceptance of the primary outcome as a withdrawal from the contest.
“My attention has been drawn to headlines across multiple media platforms characterising my acceptance of the outcome of the senatorial primary as a ‘quit’ or ‘step down.’ These headlines are factually incorrect and must be corrected,” she stated.
According to Yesufu, she remained in the race until the end but chose not to challenge the outcome despite reservations about the process.
“I did not withdraw from the primary. I contested it to its conclusion. A flawed process produced a different outcome, one I consider procedurally compromised,” she said.
She explained that her decision to accept the result was made in the interest of party unity and the broader political objective ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I chose, in the interest of party unity and the larger national project, to accept that outcome rather than pursue a protracted dispute,” she added.
Yesufu further stressed that accepting the outcome should not be interpreted as conceding defeat or abandoning her ambitions.
“That decision was strategic, not an admission of defeat. The 2027 presidential ticket is the defining contest of this electoral cycle. I am now focused entirely on ensuring the better candidate prevails on that ballot.”
The activist also urged media houses that published reports suggesting she stepped down to issue corrections.
“I call on all media platforms that carried the misleading framing to issue corrections. For the record, and for posterity, let it be clear: I did not step down. I fought till the end.”
In a follow-up post, Yesufu reiterated her position, declaring: “To all media houses – I did not quit. I did not step down. Correct your headline.”
She added that while she disagreed with the conduct of the primary, she decided not to escalate the dispute because of what she described as a bigger political battle ahead.
“The 2027 presidential election is the prize that matters in this electoral cycle. I am backing the better candidate in that race. That is where my energy belongs,” she wrote.