Aisha Yesufu, activist and chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised Seriake Dickson, the party’s national leader, accusing him of focusing on himself rather than promoting the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during a recent television interview.
In a post on X on Thursday, Yesufu said Dickson missed an opportunity to reassure aggrieved party members and rally support behind Obi ahead of the 2027 election.
Her reaction comes a day after Dickson, during an interview on Arise Television, said supporters of Obi could not genuinely claim to support the former Anambra governor while disparaging the NDC leadership and the party itself.
Responding, Yesufu said she found parts of the interview “painfully appalling” to watch.
“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 wrote.
“Your first one-on-one interview after the primaries and instead of selling your candidate and giving confidence to people on how set the road to winning the 2027 election was, you made it about yourself.”
FCT NDC PRIMARY
The activist also revisited her grievances over the NDC’s FCT senatorial primary, insisting that she followed due process and worked to calm supporters who felt sidelined by the process.
According to her, she toured the Federal Capital Territory to pacify supporters who had gathered at various party offices expecting primaries that never took place.
“I played field politics. I never waited for anyone to give me a ticket,” she said.
Yesufu further accused Dickson of treating the NDC as though its registration was an end in itself rather than a vehicle for winning political power.
“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.”
She argued that Dickson’s primary responsibility as party leader was to reconcile aggrieved aspirants and mobilise supporters rather than engage in disputes with members.
“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,” she said.
“But you ended up antagonising the very people you would need to win election. Every vote counts.”
The activist also accused the former Bayelsa governor of avoiding responsibility for challenges within the party.
“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.
“The party is young. It was overwhelmed. Mistakes will be made. Accepting the mistakes and being accountable is how the party will get better.”
Yesufu urged the party leadership to focus on defeating the ruling party in 2027 rather than engaging in internal disputes.
“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 said.
