‘Anyone Who Attacks Us Will Be Met With Equal Force’, Aisha Yesufu Warns Ahead Of 2027

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has warned that members of the party will defend themselves against attacks as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yesufu gave the warning on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, days after suspected political thugs disrupted the party’s town hall meeting for its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Oregun, Lagos State.

The November 12 incident left several vehicles damaged and some attendees injured. The circumstances surrounding the attack and the identities of those responsible were not immediately clear.

Her comments also came after President Bola Tinubu condemned violence at political events and directed security agencies to confront political thuggery and other anti-democratic activities ahead of the elections.

In a statement on Friday, Tinubu said political campaigns should focus on issues and ideas that promote public welfare, adding that all parties and candidates should be free to campaign anywhere in the country without fear or intimidation.

Reacting to the attacks, Yesufu said the period when politicians could deploy thugs against their opponents without consequences was over.

“To defend my life is a fundamental right, is a human right, is a natural right and I will protect myself. That is what all Nigerian citizens have said. The time when some people think they have the monopoly of violence and they will unleash their thugs and their thugs will kill, they will maim, they will destroy and they will not say anything, it has passed. We will no longer accept that and if Mr Tinubu wants to turn a new leaf fantastic, let him do a family meeting and ensure there is peace,” Yesufu said.

Asked whether she was threatening to respond to violence with violence, the NDC chieftain said she was only insisting on the right to defend herself and other party members.

“I am not threatening violence but anybody that comes to attack us will be met with equal force. I am not threatening violence, I am threatening that I am going to defend myself,” she said.

On the 2027 elections, Yesufu expressed confidence that Nigerians would ensure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts a credible exercise, despite her reservations about the electoral body.

She said the Peter Obi camp had greater hope of winning the 2027 election than it did in 2023, adding that they would not allow their supporters to be intimidated.

“I will tell you something, this 2027 election, we have more hope than we even did in that 2023 and we will continue to go on that. We are peace loving people, but we are also people that are not going to take nonsense from anybody,” she said.

Yesufu said the party was more concerned about protecting its votes than winning the election, insisting that its victory must not be undermined through rigging.

“Winning is not our problem. The main issue is ensuring that when we win, nobody, born of man or woman, will rig our election,” she said.