Aisha Yesufu Criticises Dickson, Raises Fresh Questions Over NDC Primaries

A fresh wave of internal tensions has hit the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after activist-turned-politician Aisha Yesufu publicly criticised the party’s national leader, Henry Seriake Dickson, over the conduct of recent party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The disagreement stems from controversies surrounding the NDC’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial primary, where Yesufu had sought the party’s ticket. She has repeatedly alleged that the process was flawed and failed to reflect democratic principles, insisting that she neither withdrew nor stepped down from the race.

In recent remarks, Yesufu accused Dickson of focusing more on personal relevance than strengthening the party for the challenges ahead. Her criticism followed comments made by the former Bayelsa governor regarding complaints arising from the party’s primary elections.

The activist expressed disappointment with the party’s leadership, maintaining that despite concerns about the process, she chose not to escalate the dispute in order to avoid deepening divisions within the party. She nevertheless described the primary exercise as fundamentally flawed and inconsistent with the expectations of party members.

The latest exchange highlights growing concerns within the NDC, which has faced multiple complaints from aspirants and party members over the outcome of various primary elections across the country. Reports indicate that some party stakeholders have accused the leadership of sidelining candidates and failing to provide a level playing field during the nomination process.

Dickson, who has emerged as one of the party’s most influential figures, has defended the NDC’s processes and called on members to remain focused on the broader objective of building a strong political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

Political observers say the dispute could test the unity of the relatively new party as it seeks to position itself as a major force in Nigeria’s opposition landscape before the next general election.