Human rights activist and social crusader, Aisha Yesufu, has expressed confidence that Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stands a stronger chance in the 2027 general election than he did in 2023.

Speaking in Umuahia, Abia State, on Friday during an interactive session with journalists at the Girls’ Summit organized by Protect The Precious Foundation, where she was a guest speaker, Yesufu noted that many Nigerians who were initially sceptical of Obi’s message have now come to appreciate his vision and ideals.

“Peter Obi has more hope in 2027 than there was in 2023. When he started in 2023, people said only four persons were tweeting for him. Despite the rigging that took place, he still got over six million votes. He won the 2023 election even without having a single councillor,” Yesufu said.

She added that Obi’s growing popularity and increased followership stem from a broader public awakening to his message of transparency and good governance.

“Many didn’t believe in him then, but today, people have seen the truth he stands for. His followership has grown, and all we ask for is a free, fair, and credible election—though we know they lack the capacity to give that,” she stated.

The activist urged Nigerians to take ownership of the electoral process by ensuring that their votes truly count.

“When you vote, make sure your vote is counted and entered for your candidate. Otherwise, all you did was paper painting,” she warned.

On the forthcoming INEC leadership, Yesufu expressed little faith in the process, saying she had no specific expectations from the new chairman-designate.

“I don’t have any task for him because even the President that appointed him, I don’t believe is supposed to be there. For me, the focus is on the Nigerian people. INEC is not the problem; it’s the people working there—our brothers, sisters, spouses, and relatives. We must ensure they don’t take bribes or rig elections. If we do that, nobody will dare to rig,” she said.

Yesufu lamented the absence of key electoral reforms as 2027 approaches, warning that Nigerians must treat the coming polls as a defining moment for the nation.

“Nothing has been put in place. Nigerians must realise that the 2027 election is a fight for our lives,” she emphasized.

Addressing Nigeria’s broader challenges, Yesufu dismissed the belief that the country’s problems are spiritual, blaming corruption, incompetence, and poor leadership instead.

“People are dying from bad governance, corruption, and wrong policies. It’s not village people or enemies—it’s bad leaders. To have good governance, we must elect people with competence, character, and capacity, not looters or selfish individuals,” she asserted.

Advocacy for the Girl Child

Turning to the plight of girls in Nigeria, Yesufu decried the continued neglect of their rights and safety, condemning government and societal indifference to issues such as rape, child labour, and political exclusion.

“We must criminalize rape, punish offenders, and give victims a voice,” she urged, stressing that the culture of impunity must end.

“Rape can be stopped if it is treated as a serious crime. Right now, it’s not—offenders are often excused, and victims are shamed,” she concluded.