By Idris Sani Abdulrahman
Mr Yusuf Zariyi, a former governorship aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kaduna State, has resigned from the party.
Zariyi announced his decision on Wednesday in Kaduna at a press conference, saying his move was driven by his commitment to justice, good governance and improving lives.
He said his decision followed extensive consultations, personal experiences and a critical assessment of the NDC platform since he joined the party to pursue his political ambition.
According to him, his involvement in politics was a moral responsibility arising from years of advocacy for justice, community engagement and support for vulnerable people.
Zariyi said he had explored various political options before settling for the NDC as a platform to pursue his vision of good governance and better living conditions for Nigerians.
He, however, said controversies surrounding the party’s governorship primary and subsequent developments made him realise that his political objectives could not be achieved on the platform.
“I am resigning my membership of the party today, being Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026,” Zariyi said.
He said the decision was taken strictly in the interest of the people he represented, including women, children, oppressed persons and victims of inequity.
“I represent women, I represent children, I represent the oppressed, I represent everybody that is a victim of lack of equity,” he said.
Zariyi said his political ambition was not driven by the desire to acquire power for its own sake, but to gain access to power to influence policies and improve the lives of ordinary people.
“Power in itself is not an end; it is a means to basically making better the lives of people,” he said.
The former aspirant described himself as a grassroots-oriented person who had engaged communities, led protests, criticised policies and mobilised support for people facing difficulties.
He said his experiences working with communities had exposed him to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians, particularly those living in underserved areas.
Zariyi said he and his associates had often travelled to difficult locations to distribute food, clothing, medication and other assistance to affected communities.
He explained that his decision to venture into politics was partly motivated by the desire to find a more direct way of addressing the challenges facing the people.
According to him, political power should be used to shape policies, influence governance and create opportunities for communities to improve their living conditions.
Zariyi said his resignation from the NDC followed consultations with stakeholders and a careful consideration of the political environment.
He said his next political move would be determined after further consultations with stakeholders, adding that he had not decided which party or platform to join.
However, Zariyi said he had not yet determined the specific political position or ambition he would pursue after leaving the NDC.
“I have not made any decision yet. Like I said, I am in consultations, and once my decision is reached, I shall make that known,” he said.
He said his immediate focus was to consult widely with stakeholders and supporters before determining the next direction of his political career.
Zariyi said any political decision he made would be guided by moral obligation, service to the people and the desire to contribute to Nigeria’s development.
He urged his supporters to remain committed to their grassroots engagements, saying his support for communities would continue regardless of political circumstances.
The former aspirant expressed appreciation to his supporters for standing by him throughout his political journey and during his decision to leave the NDC.
He promised that he would continue to support communities across Southern Kaduna and other areas where people required assistance.
Zariyi also appealed to his supporters to pray for him and his associates as they embarked on the next phase of their political journey.
He said his commitment remained the welfare of the common man and the pursuit of justice and good governance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zariyi, before leaving the NDC, had stepped down from the governorship race in Kaduna State to endorse former Sen. Danjuma La’ah.
(NAN)
