Human rights activist and politician, Aisha Yesufu, has taken a swipe at the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Henry Seriake Dickson, accusing him of prioritising personal relevance over efforts to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yesufu’s remarks came in response to Dickson’s appearance on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he addressed controversies surrounding the party’s recently concluded primaries and admitted that there were reports of irregularities during the exercise.
In a statement released on Thursday, the activist expressed dissatisfaction with the former Bayelsa State governor’s comments and leadership style, arguing that the party leadership should be concentrating on building unity and confidence among members rather than engaging in internal disputes.
According to Yesufu, despite her reservations about the conduct of the primaries, she remained committed to the party’s processes and decisions. She stated that she accepted the outcomes reached by the leadership and actively worked to calm supporters who felt sidelined by the events surrounding the primaries.
Addressing Dickson directly, she said she had followed the party’s procedures and refrained from escalating disagreements, even after concerns arose regarding the conduct of Senate primaries.
She noted that she travelled across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to pacify supporters and party members who felt disrespected after waiting at designated venues for primaries that ultimately did not take place.
“Yes, I engaged in grassroots politics and never waited for anyone to hand me a ticket. Yet I still encouraged my supporters to focus on the bigger picture and remain committed to the party,” she stated.
Yesufu further criticised Dickson’s television interview, describing parts of it as disappointing and suggesting that the party leader appeared more focused on himself than on promoting the party’s candidates and electoral prospects.
She argued that his first major interview after the primaries should have been used to reassure members, market the party’s candidates, and outline a strategy for victory in the 2027 elections.
According to her, the interview instead projected an image of insecurity and unnecessary competition with the party’s presidential candidate.
The activist stressed that the NDC’s registration as a political party should not be viewed as an achievement in itself, but as a platform for achieving the broader objective of winning political power and delivering change.
“With all due respect, it appears as though the party’s registration is being celebrated as the final goal, whereas it should merely be a means to achieving electoral success in 2027,” she said.
Yesufu also faulted Dickson for failing to reach out to disappointed aspirants and supporters following the primaries. She maintained that one of the responsibilities of a party leader is to unite members after contentious internal contests and encourage them to continue supporting the organisation.
She said the interview should have been an opportunity to acknowledge grievances, appeal for patience, and rally party faithful around a common objective.
Emphasising that nobody within the party was seeking to challenge Dickson’s leadership position, Yesufu insisted that members were primarily concerned with ensuring victory in the next general election.
“No one is interested in taking away your position as leader of the NDC. The focus should be on rescuing Nigeria and winning the 2027 election,” she said.
She further accused the party leader of shifting responsibility whenever concerns were raised about internal processes, urging him instead to accept accountability for any shortcomings.
According to her, mistakes are inevitable in a young political party, but growth depends on acknowledging those mistakes and taking responsibility for correcting them.
Calling for greater unity and focus, Yesufu urged NDC leaders to set aside personal interests and concentrate on the broader mission of providing an alternative political direction for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.
She concluded by stressing that the opposition’s primary concern should be addressing the country’s challenges rather than engaging in ego-driven disputes, warning that internal divisions could undermine efforts to build a strong political movement capable of challenging for power.
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