Aisha Yesufu Blows Hot, Says NDC Primaries Lacked Transparency 

 

 

 

Rotela Oguns

 

From the look of things, the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) is battling simmering internal crisis that may come to a head and negatively affect the party’s chances of victory at the poll in the 2027 general elections.

 

This is as  some prominent members of the party are registering their grievances over the conduct of the party’s primaries recently held across the nation.

 

The latest criticism comes from, Aisha Yesufu, a renowned activist and ally of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

 

Yesufu, vented her displeasure at the NDC’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

 

She particularly targeted  Osa Director, national publicity secretary of the NDC, who the activist accused of making empty promises in a press statement without the capacity to execute same.

 

 

Recall that in a clip that has now gone viral, Yesufu, who recently dropped out of the race for the FCT senatorial seat, demanded transparency and fairness in the party’s processes going forward.

 

 

“If the national secretary did not have what it took to go to every local government, then he shouldn’t have put out a statement to the world that he was going to do that,” she said.

 

 

“If you do something, we must stand by our word. I’m not even asking for a level playing ground; I’m asking for a ground.”

 

She said the past few days have been difficult for her, with her name “dragged all over”, while insisting that the integrity of the party must come first.

 

 

“This party is more than who wins, we need to follow a process that is transparent,” Yesufu said.

 

Yesufu, however, stressed that her grievance towards some of the party’s stakeholders won’t dampen her commitment  the party’s presidential candidate.

 

The activist added that she  would concede if defeated fairly.

 

 

“If I lost honourably and fairly, I’m ready to concede that I lost. I have a presidential candidate that I am here for,” she said.

 

Yesufu joined the NDC from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and had declared interest in the 2027 FCT senate seat before stepping aside after the party opted against primaries for the position.

 

In recent days, there have been speculations that the party had ceded the FCT senate ticket to Amanda Pam, another aspirant who had been in the NDC before Yesufu joined.

 

On May 30, Yesufu alleged injustice in the NDC senate primary poll, opining that the process was subverted and flawed.

The NDC is considered a breath of air in the nation’s political space. However, the reports from its just concluded primaries have left much to be desired.

 

Recall that Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike, also staged a protest to the INEC office after the primary poll, alleging manipulation of results.