Nigerian activist and politician, Aisha Yesufu, has criticised the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, for suggesting that she did not play by the rules during the party’s senatorial primaries in Abuja.
Ms Yesufu, a member of the NDC, disclosed this in a post on her verified X handle on Thursday.
The activist turned politician was an aspirant for the FCT Senatorial primaries of the NDC, which she alleged were manipulated against her.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Dickson, while speaking at the Arise TV programme on Wednesday night, suggested that Ms Yesufu “might not have played by the rules” during the recent senatorial primaries of the party.
But in the X post, Ms Yesufu told Mr Dickson that, as the NDC national leader, he should be pacifying aggrieved party aspirants, not antagonising them.
“Dear Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, while I take my time to properly address your allusion to 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.
The activist claimed that she toured the FCT and pacified her supporters, who she said “felt rightfully disrespected” because “they were all waiting at their respective headquarters for primaries that never happened.”
“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 the election,” she told Mr Dickson.
Competition with Peter Obi?
Ms Yesufu also reacted to Mr Dickson’s comments in which he said he could have been NDC’s presidential candidate and suggested that Peter Obi is not doing the party a favour by flying its flag.
The activist said it was “so painfully appalling to watch” that part of Mr Dickson’s interview on Arise TV, adding that the NDC leader appeared to compete with Mr Obi, the party’s presidential candidate.
“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 to set the road to winning the 2027 election, you made it about yourself,” she told Mr Dickson.
‘Focus on winning elections, rescuing Nigeria’
Ms Yesufu claimed that Mr Dickson, in the Arise TV interview, presented the NDC as a “special purpose vehicle” whose aim was the successful registration as a party instead of ensuring its electoral victory in 2027.
READ ALSO: NDC Primaries: Dickson blames electoral act for irregularities
The activist stressed that Mr Dickson appeared to be battling to remain as the NDC’s leader even without any rivals.
“It looked as if you were fighting a war no one was waging with you. You don’t have anything to prove to anyone, lead!
“No one can take away your leadership of NDC, no one is interested in that! The focus is on Nigeria; it is winning the 2027 election!” 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.”
Read the full article at Premium Times Nigeria →📄Source document: Ikenna Enekweizu
5 reports
Vanguard NigeriaIndependentCenter3 days agoThe National Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ikenna Enekweizu, stated that the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had encouraged activist Aisha Yesufu to run for the AMAC/Gwari House of Representatives seat instead of the FCT Senate position. However, Yesufu ultimately decided to contest for the Senate seat. Enekweizu mentioned that the NDC attempted to convince Yesufu to run for the House of Representatives seat following her initial decision to pursue the Senate.
Bias read (Center): The article presents information from an official source (Ikenna Enekweizu, NDC National Secretary) without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on internal party discussions and decisions without taking a stance on whether Obi or Yesufu made the better choice. The framing is un
Official sources cited
- organisation Ikenna Enekweizu
Vanguard NigeriaIndependentCenter7 days ago Peter Obi vows to dialogue with agitators if elected presidentPeter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to engage with agitators nationwide if elected president, aiming to foster national unity and address the root causes of unrest. This commitment was outlined in a statement released by his media office following an event in Washington, D.C., where Obi discussed strategies for unifying the country amidst rising regional and political tensions.
Bias read (Center): The article presents Peter Obi's policy proposal in a neutral tone, focusing on his stated intent to engage with agitators and promote national unity. There is no overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of context. The framing appears balanced, reflecting Obi's public statements as
Official sources cited
- organisation Statement by Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR)
Premium Times NigeriaIndependentCenter8 days agoSeriake Dickson, the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), stated that he and presidential candidate Peter Obi offered activist Aisha Yesufu a House of Representatives ticket, which she reportedly rejected. This disclosure came amid controversy over the NDC's senatorial primaries in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Yesufu had previously alleged that the primaries were manipulated against her.
Bias read (Center): The article presents statements from both Seriake Dickson and references Aisha Yesufu's allegations without overtly favoring either side. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the claims made by both parties without evident bias toward one perspective.
Official sources cited
- organisation National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson
- organisation Premium Times Nigeria
Premium Times NigeriaIndependentCenter9 days ago You appear insecure, and in competition with Peter Obi, Aisha Yesufu tells DicksonAisha Yesufu accused Mr. Dickson of appearing insecure and being in competition with Peter Obi after Dickson made comments on a television program suggesting he could have been the NDC's presidential candidate and questioned whether Obi was benefiting the party.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a direct quote from Aisha Yesufu criticizing Dickson without additional commentary or framing that suggests a particular ideological slant. It does not favor one side over the other and simply reports the exchange between the individuals involved.
Vanguard NigeriaIndependentCenter12 days ago PANDEF hails NDC as emerging National Political ForceThe Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has praised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as an emerging national political force, highlighting its rapid growth and increasing influence across Nigeria. During a meeting with Senator Seriake Dickson, the National Leader of the NDC, PANDEF's National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, acknowledged Dickson's role in founding and developing the party. PANDEF emphasized its commitment to engaging with political leaders and organizations to promote peace, development, equity, and progress in Nigeria.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a neutral account of PANDEF's endorsement of the NDC without overtly favoring any particular political ideology. It reports on a positive statement made by PANDEF regarding the NDC's growing influence but does not include any critical perspectives or counterpoints. However, it's
Official sources cited
- organisation PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali
- organisation Senator Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the NDC
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