Aisha Yesufu calls on Nigerians to support Obi's 2027 campaign

Activist Aisha Yesufu has started a public fundraising campaign to help former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in his 2027 election bid.

Yesufu made this known in a video posted on X on Wednesday. She urged Nigerians to contribute financially to the campaign instead of leaving all the funding to Obi.

She said that anyone who wants to see change in Nigeria should take part in the campaign by donating, no matter how small the amount.

"My fellow citizens, Peter Obi cannot do this alone. There is no way we can say that we want to rescue a nation, we want to get back our nation, we want the people to own this nation, and then we say that we are going to leave everything to Mr Peter Obi to fund.

"So please, every one of us, we need you to put in something. Let the citizens fund this election. Let us be the ones that say our one naira, we go here and it will be used for this or that," she said.

Looking back at the 2023 presidential election, Yesufu noted that Obi was initially hesitant about public fundraising. She insisted that citizens needed to help finance the campaign.

She said the previous fundraising effort was accounted for, even though some people criticized it.

"Even last election, Mr Peter Obi never wanted us to use public fundraising. But I remember saying to him, people need to be involved. And when people give, they are emotionally invested.

"And we did that fundraising. And at the end, there were a lot of people who said so many things. We put out the account. Everything we could was accounted for," she said.

Yesufu pointed out that it was no longer feasible for Obi to cover most of the campaign costs. She asked supporters to step up and contribute to the effort.

"It can no longer work. Every one of us have to put in our own widow’s mite," she said.

Yesufu explained that this fundraising effort is separate from the political party's own fundraising. She mentioned that the party would share its account details for those who want to donate.

"This is not the party. This is what we, as citizens, are going to use to fund the things that we can do for Mr Peter Obi. The party are going to put out their own accounts.

"Those who want to donate to the party, please wait for their account. This particular account that is here, it’s for Peter Obi’s campaign donated by citizens," she said.

She also promised to keep everything transparent regarding the donations. Yesufu assured that she would account for every contribution received.

"In 2023, I was accountable, and I accounted for every dime. And in 2027, by the grace of God, I will also be accountable. And I will account for every dime," Yesufu said.

She encouraged Nigerians to support what she called a citizens' campaign for Obi as the 2027 elections approach.