.Senator urges patience, says party navigating rapid growth
Human rights activist and politician, Aisha Yesufu, has blasted Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, accusing the leader of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) of focusing on personal relevance rather than building momentum for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yesufu’s criticism came in response to Dickson’s interview on Arise News TV on Wednesday night, during which he addressed concerns surrounding the party’s recently concluded primaries and acknowledged reports of irregularities in the exercise.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Yesufu said she was disappointed by Dickson’s remarks and leadership approach, arguing that he failed to reassure aggrieved party members and instead projected an image of insecurity.
She said, “Dear Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, 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, 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), I would like you, as the National leader, to watch this video again!”
Yesufu described a section of Dickson’s television appearance as troubling, alleging that the former governor appeared to be competing with his own party’s presidential candidate rather than promoting the NDC’s electoral prospects.
“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,” Yesufu said.
“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.”
The activist further argued that Dickson appeared to view the party’s registration as an achievement in itself rather than a vehicle for securing electoral victory.
“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!!!!
“The registration of NDC should be a means to an end and not an end in itself.”
She also faulted Dickson for allegedly failing to unite party members after the primaries and for alienating supporters whose backing would be crucial in future elections.
“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. Every vote counts! A leader must stoop to conquer!”
According to Yesufu, no one within the party was attempting to challenge Dickson’s authority.
“No one can take away your leadership of NDC, no one is interested in that! The focus is on Nigeria winning the 2027 election!
“It looked as if you were fighting a war no one was waging with you. You don’t have anything to prove to anyone, just lead!”
She further accused the NDC leader of avoiding accountability whenever party processes come under scrutiny.
“It is also interesting how, as a leader, I see you shifting the blame to any process that doesn’t go well or is called out,” Yesufu said.
“Even in this statement below, you did! 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.”
Calling for a renewed focus on national issues and the opposition’s electoral ambitions, Yesufu warned against allowing personal egos to overshadow the party’s mission.
“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 referenced a quote from motivational speaker Jim Rohn, saying, “Let me round up with some words from Jim Rohn: ‘If what you did yesterday is still looking big to you today, then you are not doing enough!!!'”
The National Leader, Dickson, had sympathized with the aspirants who participated in the party’s recently concluded primaries, acknowledging that the exercise experienced some irregularities.
According to a post on his official X handle on Thursday, Dickson said while the primaries were not flawless, members should remain patient with the party as it navigates the challenges associated with its rapid growth.
Last night, I had an interview with Arise TV, where I sympathised with our aspirants over some noticeable irregularities in our just-concluded primaries. I noted that, while not claiming that the exercise was perfect, I urged all of them to bear with the party in view of the circumstances we are managing,” he said.
According to him, the challenges encountered during the primaries are not unique to the NDC, noting that larger and more established political parties have faced similar issues.
“We are just four months old and have been thrown into the middle of a very tight electoral timeframe, within which we had to carry out membership registration, congresses up to the national convention, primaries, appeal processes, and now the reconciliation phase,” he said.
The former Governor of Bayela State attributed many of the complaints surrounding the primaries to the direct primary system mandated under the Electoral Act.
“My views on the Electoral Act have been clear: the APC-led majority were wrong in foisting compulsory direct primaries on political parties and the country. Complaints about irregularities in direct primaries are pervasive across all parties and are not peculiar to the NDC,” he stated.
Despite the concerns raised by some aspirants, the NDC national leader maintained that the party had performed creditably, given its age and the large number of aspirants it had to manage.
“As a matter of fact, considering the age of the NDC and the teeming number of aspirants we have had to manage, we have done quite well,” he said.
He also dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that winners had already emerged from the party’s primaries.
“No party has announced any set of winners from its primaries, and neither has the NDC. The public should disregard any such claims in circulation, especially on social media, and await the party’s formal submissions through the appropriate channels,” he said.
Dickson also explained that the party had anticipated post-primary grievances and had already established a reconciliation mechanism.
“In anticipation of these challenges, the 2nd NEC meeting approved the composition of a Reconciliation Committee to work with state caucus leaders and other stakeholders in managing grievances,” he said.
The NDC leader assured members that future primaries would be improved through the adoption of technology.
“This is our first set of primaries, and it will also be the last to be conducted manually. The next primaries will be technologically driven and will have none of these issues,” he said.
He thanked party members and supporters for their financial contributions and sacrifices, describing the NDC as a self-funded political movement without government officials backing its activities.
“I appreciate their donations, contributions, and sacrifices made on behalf of the party. They remain valuable members of our party regardless of the outcome of the primaries,” he said.
The former governor further called on members to close ranks and support the party’s candidates ahead of the elections.
“We are in this together, and we are all committed to ensuring the success of our party and our presidential team, their Excellencies Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” he said.
Dickson also urged party leaders at the state level to actively participate in the reconciliation process rather than assign blame.
“It is not a time to shift blame or dodge responsibilities. Since they midwifed and managed the process of the primaries, they should equally help in supporting the party in coordinating the reconciliation process,” he added.
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