Prominent activist and member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has publicly criticized the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson, accusing him of appearing insecure and behaving as though he was in competition with the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The remarks have added a new dimension to ongoing discussions within the party following its recent primary elections.
Yesufu made the comments in a strongly worded post on X while reacting to Dickson’s appearance on ARISE News, where he addressed concerns raised by some Obi supporters and defended the party’s leadership. According to her, the interview represented a missed opportunity to unite party members and strengthen confidence ahead of the 2027 general election. She argued that rather than focusing on promoting the party’s candidates and reassuring supporters, Dickson appeared to make the discussion revolve around himself.
The activist stated that she found parts of the interview disappointing, insisting that the party leader came across as being in competition with the very candidate he should be supporting. She maintained that the primary objective of senior party figures at this stage should be to build momentum for the party and foster unity among members rather than engage in actions that could deepen internal divisions. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Yesufu also rejected suggestions that some party members had failed to follow internal rules because of their popularity. She insisted that she complied with established procedures during the party’s primaries and worked diligently to maintain peace among supporters who felt dissatisfied with certain developments during the electoral process. According to her, she spent considerable time calming aggrieved members and encouraging them to focus on the broader goal of political change.
The activist further argued that Dickson appeared to treat the NDC as a project whose objective had already been achieved through its registration rather than as a political platform focused on winning power in 2027. She stressed that the party’s leadership should be concentrating on building a formidable campaign structure capable of challenging for national leadership rather than engaging in unnecessary disputes with supporters and aspirants.
According to Yesufu, many aspirants and supporters remain dissatisfied with aspects of the party’s primary process and require reassurance from the leadership. She contended that Dickson’s responsibility during the interview should have been to heal wounds, pacify aggrieved members and encourage unity within the party. Instead, she claimed the comments risked alienating individuals whose support would be crucial during the next election cycle.
The controversy comes after Dickson defended the party against criticisms from some Obi supporters and dismissed suggestions that the NDC was facing an internal crisis. The former Bayelsa governor maintained that disagreements arising from the primaries were normal in a democratic process and insisted that the party remained united despite differing opinions among members.
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, the exchange between two influential figures within the NDC highlights the challenges facing emerging political coalitions seeking to maintain unity while accommodating diverse interests. While party leaders continue efforts to project stability, the public disagreement underscores the intense debates taking place behind the scenes as members position themselves for the crucial electoral contest ahead.
