Sagnarigu, May 2, 2026 — The long-dominant reign of Hajia Rakia as Sagnarigu Constituency Women Organiser for the National Democratic Congress faces its first real test after challenger Hajia Ayishetu Mahama formally declared her candidacy.

In a letter to NDC branch officers and executives, Hajia Ayishetu launched her bid with the rallying cry “Faai bahi zuɣu ka ti yina” “Let us come together and rise as one”, positioning herself as a fresh voice for renewal.

Hajia Rakia has held the position unchallenged for years, earning the nickname “Untouchable” among party insiders who describe her tenure as a “revolutionary rule” built on strong grassroots loyalty and tight control of the women’s wing.

Hajia Ayishetu’s campaign, using hashtags #FreeSagnarigu and #BreakTheChain, frames the contest as a battle to “free” the constituency from entrenched leadership.

Women are the backbone of every community, and in Sagnarigu, our women deserve a voice, a seat, and a champion, she wrote.

Some branch executives speaking anonymously to journalists said that Hajia Ayishetu’s boldness signals shifting ground.

For years, nobody dared to contest her, one said. The ground has shifted.

Others caution that Hajia Rakia’s deep network among women voters could prove formidable.

The challenger’s declaration, issued through campaign secretary Abdul Mu-utee, calls for “free, fair, and peaceful” branch elections while urging unity across “every man and woman, young and old.”

With internal NDC branch elections approaching, the Sagnarigu race has become one of the party’s most closely watched contests, potentially reshaping women’s leadership dynamics in the constituency.

By Saqid Gariba