2027: Obi Supporters to Track Election Results From Polling Units to Abuja — Yesufu

Political activist and member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has said supporters of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will take an active role in protecting their votes during the 2027 presidential election rather than relying solely on electoral institutions.

Yesufu said Obi’s supporters would deploy representatives to polling units across the country and monitor election materials and results throughout the collation process, from polling units to the final collation centre in Abuja.

She disclosed this during an interview with Arise News while discussing Obi’s chances in the 2027 election and lessons from the 2023 presidential poll.

According to Yesufu, the experience of the 2023 election made it necessary for voters and political organisations to become more involved in monitoring and protecting their votes.

“Yes, we are going to have people at every polling unit to protect the votes,” she said.

She explained that the proposed strategy would involve tracking results from polling units through ward, local government and state collation centres until the final declaration in Abuja.

“No result sheet will leave our sight. We will follow the results from the polling units all the way to Abuja,” Yesufu said.

She said the objective was to ensure that the final results reflected the votes actually cast by Nigerians.

The activist also expressed what she described as “zero trust” in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the judiciary, arguing that citizens could not afford to leave the protection of their votes entirely in the hands of institutions.

She consequently called for stronger grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election, with supporters focusing on polling units and election monitoring rather than relying exclusively on rallies and campaign activities.

On the recent incident in Benue State, where Obi’s movement was reportedly obstructed during a planned visit, Yesufu defended the NDC candidate’s decision not to engage those who blocked his convoy.

She argued that Obi had other engagements that day and should not allow what she described as “miscreants” to dictate his movements.

Yesufu also expressed confidence that Obi could win the 2027 presidential election, arguing that Nigerians were increasingly concerned about the effects of economic hardship and insecurity on their daily lives.

She criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, describing it as a “colossal failure” and arguing that claims of improvements in macroeconomic indicators had not translated into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

According to her, Nigerians are contending with rising costs, insecurity and declining purchasing power, stressing that the success of economic policies should ultimately be measured by their impact on citizens.

Yesufu said she believed Obi had an advantage because voters were increasingly focusing on competence, character and capacity rather than religious considerations.

She also expressed confidence that Obi would retain Lagos in 2027 while making significant gains in other parts of the country.

The activist, who said she was not seeking elective office, maintained that her focus was on mobilising support for Obi and ensuring that votes cast for the candidate were adequately protected.

She said the experience of the 2023 election had demonstrated the need for stronger grassroots organisation if voters wanted their ballots to determine the eventual outcome of the 2027 presidential election.