Dickson Reveals Peter Obi, NDC Offered Aisha Yesufu House of Reps Ticket, Says She Declined

National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has revealed that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, once offered activist and prominent supporter Aisha Yesufu a ticket to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives, but she declined the opportunity.

Dickson made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting of the NDC in Abuja, amid ongoing tensions between party leaders and some members over the conduct of the party’s recent primaries.

According to the former Bayelsa State governor, both he and Obi considered Yesufu a strong candidate capable of representing the party at the National Assembly. However, he said the activist turned down the offer, insisting that the position was not one she was interested in pursuing.

“Talking about the FCT, do you know that Peter Obi and I offered Aisha Yesufu a House of Representatives ticket, but she turned it down?” Dickson told party stakeholders.

“House of Representatives that many people are struggling to get, she said she was too big for it.”

His remarks come shortly after Yesufu publicly criticised the NDC leadership, particularly Dickson, over comments he made regarding the party’s primaries and internal affairs.

The activist had accused the party leader of focusing more on personal relevance than on strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement released on Thursday, Yesufu expressed disappointment with Dickson’s appearance on a television programme where he discussed reports of irregularities during the party’s candidate selection process.

She maintained that despite reservations about how the primaries were conducted, she remained loyal to the party and worked to calm aggrieved supporters who felt excluded from the process.

According to her, many party members in the Federal Capital Territory were left disappointed after waiting for primaries that never took place, yet she encouraged them to remain focused on the larger objective of building a strong opposition platform.

Yesufu stressed that she had always followed the party’s procedures and never expected political positions to be handed to her without due process.

“I played field politics. I never waited for anyone to give me a ticket,” she stated.

The activist further alleged that Dickson’s television interview appeared to focus more on defending his own position within the party than promoting the party’s candidates and electoral strategy.

She argued that the NDC leadership should be concentrating on winning elections and inspiring confidence among supporters rather than engaging in internal disputes.

“With all due respect, sir, it looked as if you were insecure and competing with your presidential candidate,” she said.

“Yesufu also stated that the registration of the NDC should not be seen as an achievement in itself, but rather as a platform for winning elections and delivering good governance.

She urged party leaders to prioritise reconciliation and unity, especially among aspirants and supporters who felt dissatisfied with the outcome of the primaries.

According to her, one of the responsibilities of party leadership is to unite members after contentious internal contests and ensure that grievances do not weaken the party ahead of national elections.

She also rejected any suggestion that members were challenging Dickson’s authority as national leader, insisting that the focus should remain on defeating the ruling party and addressing Nigeria’s challenges.

“No one is interested in taking away your leadership. The focus should be on Nigeria and the 2027 election,” she said.

The exchange highlights growing debates within the NDC as it seeks to consolidate support ahead of the next general election, with party leaders and prominent supporters continuing discussions on internal democracy, candidate selection, and the party’s broader strategy for 2027.

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