Activist and politician Aisha Yesufu has called on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to concentrate its efforts on winning the 2027 general election. She made this statement in response to an interview by the National Leader of the NDC, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, on Arise TV, where he defended the party's handling of its first primaries.
Dickson's Interview Sparks Controversy
In the interview, Dickson sympathized with NDC aspirants over irregularities while attributing the issues to the Electoral Act's compulsory direct primaries. He also noted the party's four-month age amid tight electoral timelines. The former Governor of Bayelsa State stressed that no winners have been formally announced, set up a reconciliation committee, promised technology-driven future primaries, and urged unity and support for the presidential and vice presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso. However, his remarks drew significant backlash from Obidient supporters, who accused him of arrogance for claiming he is more qualified than Obi and that the NDC is providing them a platform.
Yesufu's Direct Critique
Reacting via a post on her official X account on Thursday, Yesufu directly critiqued Dickson's interview, accusing him of self-focus, insecurity toward Obi and Kwankwaso, and treating the four-month-old party as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) rather than a vehicle to win the 2027 election. She referenced her own experience pacifying FCT supporters after canceled senate primaries and urged Dickson to accept responsibility for irregularities instead of shifting blame.
Yesufu stated: "Dear Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, while I take my time to properly address your allusion of me not playing by the rules which I consider very disingenuous seeing how I followed the process and even when you had insisted there would be no primaries for senate I let things go and asked my teeming supporters to focus on the bigger picture, I toured the FCT pacifying my supporters and party people who rightfully felt disrespected as they were all waiting at their respective headquarters for primaries that never happened. (I played field politics, I never waited for anyone to give me ticket), I would like you as the National leader to watch this video again!"
She added: "This part of the interview was so painfully appalling to watch. It looked as if you were insecure and in competition with your Presidential Candidate. Your first one on one interview after primaries and instead of selling your candidates and giving confidence to people on how set the road to winning the 2027 election was, you made it about yourself."
Call for Unity and Accountability
Yesufu emphasized that the NDC should not be seen as an SPV whose aim has been achieved by registration, but as a political party whose goal is to win the 2027 election decisively. She stressed that as a leader, Dickson's primary job in the interview should have been to pacify aggrieved aspirants and call for support, not antagonize the very people needed for victory. She concluded: "There is a whole battle ahead of us. Rescuing Nigeria from the current state it is in, should be the main focus not people's fragile ego!"
The exchange highlights internal NDC tensions over manual primaries, reconciliation needs, and leadership style in a self-funded party without incumbents, amid broader Nigerian political realignments ahead of 2027.
