Aisha Yesufu Turns Down House of Reps Ticket from NDC Leaders

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, said he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, offered activist Aisha Yesufu a House of Representatives ticket, but she turned it down.

Mr Dickson shared this news on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja. This came amid discussions about the party’s senatorial primaries for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) District.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Ms Yesufu wanted to run for the FCT Senatorial District primaries of the NDC. She claimed these primaries were manipulated against her.

During the press conference, right after the NDC’s stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Mr Dickson emphasized that Ms Yesufu rejected the House of Representatives ticket even though there was a lot of competition for it.

“Do you know that Peter Obi and myself offered Aisha (Yesufu) House of Reps? You, the public, you don’t know. And she turned it down,” he said.

Mr Dickson also said, “House of Representatives (ticket) that people are fighting for. But she’s too big.”

He did not say when the House of Representatives ticket was offered to Ms Yesufu or which federal constituency in the FCT it was for.

Mr Dickson mentioned that even though he knew about Ms Yesufu’s criticism of the NDC and its leaders, she is still a member of the party.

He hinted that Ms Yesufu and others who support Mr Obi for president should work to strengthen the party. He said they should not try to tear it apart by attacking the leaders.

“Anybody who believes in (Peter) Obi becoming president should not be talking down on the NDC or the leadership. You’re hurting yourself,” he said, referring to Ms Yesufu, who is close to Mr Obi.