Prominent activist and National Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Aisha Yesufu, has criticised the party’s national leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, urging him to focus on building the party ahead of the 2027 general elections rather than engaging in internal disputes.
In a statement posted on her X handle, Yesufu responded to comments by Dickson in which he allegedly suggested that she did not play by the party’s rules during the process leading to the party’s senatorial ticket.
Rejecting the allegation, Yesufu maintained that she followed due process and accepted the party’s decisions despite concerns from her supporters.
“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,” she wrote.
According to her, she personally moved around the Federal Capital Territory to calm supporters and party members who felt disappointed after waiting for primaries that did not hold.
“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,” she stated.
Yesufu also expressed disappointment with Dickson’s recent interview, saying she expected him to use the opportunity to reassure party members and promote the party’s candidates.
“I would like you as the National leader to watch this video again. 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,” she said.
She added, “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.”
The activist stressed that the party’s primary objective should be winning the 2027 election and not merely celebrating its registration.
“With all due respect sir, it looks as if you consider the NDC a Special Purpose Vehicle whose aim has been achieved just by being registered instead of a Political Party whose aim is to win the 2027 General election decisively. The registration of NDC should be a means to an end and not an end in itself,” she said.
Yesufu further urged Dickson to focus on uniting party members, especially aspirants who may be dissatisfied with the outcome of the party’s internal processes.
“As a leader of a Political party, your number one job in that interview was to pacify aspirants many of whom are rightfully aggrieved and secondly to call on supporters to bear with the party and support it, but you ended up antagonising the very people you would need to win election. Every vote counts! A leader must stoop to conquer!” she wrote.
She also sought to reassure Dickson about his position within the party, saying nobody was challenging his authority.
“No one can take away your leadership of NDC, no one is interested in that. The focus is on Nigeria and winning the 2027 election,” she stated.
The activist called on the party leader to accept responsibility for shortcomings within the party and avoid shifting blame when issues arise.
“Take all responsibility! The party is young. It was overwhelmed. Mistakes will be made. Accepting the mistakes and being accountable is how the party will get better,” she said. Emphasising the challenges ahead, Yesufu urged party leaders to remain focused on national issues.
“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,” she added.
