The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has disclosed that he and the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, initially offered activist Aisha Yesufu a House of Representatives ticket, but she rejected it.
Dickson's Revelation at Press Conference
Mr Dickson made this known on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja, amid controversy surrounding the party's senatorial primaries for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) District. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Ms Yesufu was an aspirant for the FCT Senatorial District primaries of the NDC, which she alleged were manipulated against her.
Speaking shortly after the NDC's stakeholders' meeting in Abuja, Mr Dickson emphasized that Ms Yesufu declined the House of Representatives ticket despite intense competition for it. "Do you know that Peter Obi and myself offered Aisha (Yesufu) House of Reps? You, the public, you don't know. And she turned it down," he said.
The national leader added: "House of Representatives (ticket) that people are fighting for. But she's too big." Mr Dickson did not specify when the ticket was offered or for which federal constituency in the FCT.
Context of the Offer
Although Mr Dickson acknowledged Ms Yesufu's criticism of the NDC and its leaders, he stressed that she remains a party member. He suggested that Ms Yesufu and others who support Mr Obi's presidential bid should focus on building the party rather than destabilizing it by attacking its leadership.
"Anybody who believes in (Peter) Obi becoming president should not be talking down on the NDC or the leadership. You're hurting yourself," he said in a veiled reference to Ms Yesufu, who is an ally of Mr Obi.
