Aisha Yesufu, activist and ally of Peter Obi, has criticised the leadership style of Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), following his comments about the party after its recent primaries.
Her reaction came after Dickson appeared on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he discussed the internal issues that emerged after the party concluded its primary elections.
Peter Obi was announced as the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election on May 30, while former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was unveiled as his running mate.
During the interview, Dickson urged Obi’s supporters to stop attacking the party and its leaders, arguing that doing so would weaken the platform that is providing their preferred candidate with the opportunity to contest the election.
He also said the party was giving Obi and other candidates the chance to seek elective offices under its banner.
Yesufu, who sought the NDC’s Senate ticket for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was unable to contest after the party decided not to conduct a primary election for the FCT Senate seat.
In a statement released on Thursday, she expressed disappointment with Dickson’s television appearance, saying he missed an opportunity to inspire confidence in the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to her, Dickson focused too much on himself instead of promoting the party’s candidates and reassuring supporters.
“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.
“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.”
Yesufu also argued that the NDC should see itself as a political party focused on winning elections, not simply as an organisation whose mission ended after securing official 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,” she said.
“The registration of NDC should be a means to an end and not an end in itself.”
The activist further stated that Dickson should have used the interview to calm the concerns of disappointed aspirants and encourage supporters to remain committed to the party instead of making remarks that could push them away.
“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,” Yesufu said.
“Every vote counts! A leader must stoop to conquer!. No one can take away your leadership of NDC, no one is interested in that! The focus is on Nigeria is winning the 2027 election!
“It looked as if you are fighting a war no one is waging with you. You don’t have anything to prove to anyone, just lead!”
Yesufu also accused Dickson of avoiding responsibility whenever problems arise within the party.
She said the NDC is still a young political party and mistakes are expected, but its leaders should admit those mistakes and learn from them instead of shifting blame.
“It is also interesting how as a leader I see you shifting the blame with any process that doesn’t go well or is called out,” she said.
“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.”
According to her, the main priority should be rescuing Nigeria through the 2027 elections rather than allowing personal interests or egos to dominate the conversation.
“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.
Speaking on her own experience during the FCT Senate race, Yesufu maintained that she followed the party’s procedures despite her disappointment over the cancellation of the primary election.
“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 said.
“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 a ticket.”
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