The Deputy Director of Publicity and Strategic Communication for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Brian Dennis, has detailed the party discussions that led to activist Aisha Yesufu turning down an offer to contest for a House of Representatives seat.
According to Dennis, both the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and NDC leader, Seriake Dickson, appealed to Yesufu to run for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)/Bwari Federal Constituency seat rather than the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senate seat.
Yesufu, who joined the NDC shortly after Obi transferred his membership from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), initially declared her intention to run for the Senate. However, Dennis explained that another party member, Amanda Pam, had already established a grassroots campaign and secure footing for the senatorial ticket before Yesufu or Obi joined the party.
His words: “When Aisha Yesufu came to this party, we welcomed her and had a small reception.
“Now, Aisha Yesufu declared her intention to run for Senate, FCT Senate. Before Aisha came to the party, there had been someone working before Aisha, before Obi, before Kwankwaso came to the party. This woman, Amanda Pam, some of you may not know her, but election is not on social media;p election is a grassroots campaign. She has covered the base, she has been working consistently, she has garnered a lot of membership registrations, and she has done grassroots work for the party.
“In fact, Amanda Pam helped the NDC penetrate the FCT. She did a lot of work, and Dickson, being a man of his word, said, ‘Don’t worry, I will support your ambition for FCT Senate.’
“Aisha came to the party about three or four days after Obi did. We welcomed her. Dickson had a chat with her. Dickson told her he likes her; she is an activist and a well-respected activist.”
Dickson had previously committed his support to Pam’s senatorial ambition.
Dennis stated that Obi intervened on Yesufu’s behalf, but Dickson declined to reverse his commitment to Pam. Instead, the party leadership offered Yesufu the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency ticket as a consensus candidate with no opposition in the primaries.
Both Obi and Dickson reportedly held discussions with Yesufu over a two-day period, holding the ticket for 24 hours before the primaries to encourage her acceptance.
According to Dennis, Obi advised her that starting in the House of Representatives would benefit her political trajectory, noting her lack of prior elective office experience. Dickson also cited his own political career, which began in the House of Representatives.
Yesufu declined the offer, subsequently withdrawing from the race after it eventually dawned on her that she would not secure the senatorial ticket.
He said, “When she declared her intention, Dickson told her, ‘No, no, no. See, I am a man of my word. I already gave my word.’ Dickson told her, ‘I already gave my word to someone.’
“Obi, our presidential candidate, intervened on her behalf, and Dickson said, ‘No, I am a man of my word. What is going to be the value of my word if I give it to one person and then on another day retrieve it and give it to another person? It doesn’t make any sense.’
“Here is where I am getting to now. Aisha has never said this, and probably this is the first time any of you will hear it. FCT AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency was offered to Aisha on a platter, no strings attached. Just take it, because we want people like you holding offices and winning elections in our party.
“AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency was offered to Aisha. Dickson told her, ‘I can do this one for her. Even if there are people who have been asking, this one I can give to her unopposed. I will make sure she emerges unopposed. No need for primaries. It will be: this is who the party is going with, full stop. This is Peter Obi’s candidate. This is Seriake Dickson’s candidate, full stop.’
“Aisha declined. Apparently she is too big for the House of Representatives; she wants to start with the Senate.
“Even our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, told Aisha, ‘See, take this thing. If I am lying, Aisha should respond and tell me that I am lying.’ He told Aisha, ‘Take this thing. This is good for your career. This is good for your trajectory. You have not been in an elective office before.’
“Aisha said no.
“For two days, Dickson sat down with Aisha and was telling her to take it. Obi called her. In fact, to show faith, they left it for 24 hours before the primaries. It was still for Aisha if she had just agreed to have it given to her.
“She declined. She did not agree.
“Dickson even told her, ‘Even me, I started my elective office as House of Representatives. Start from somewhere. You are young. You are energetic.’
“Aisha did not agree.
“What would Dickson do? He had given his word to somebody. The same way he gave his word to Obi that he would be the presidential candidate, he cannot go back on it. He is a man of his word.
“What now? Aisha goes around blackmailing the party, saying all sorts of things. You would assume that the party cheated her unfairly. Meanwhile, eventually 23 people picked forms for the House of Representatives seat, something that was offered to Aisha Yesufu: ‘Take it, it is all yours. The party will agree that you are a consensus candidate and that will be it.’
“Or, worst-case scenario, they tell all the people who had shown interest, ‘Take back your money, this one has gone to Aisha Yesufu.’”
Dennis made the disclosures via a video statement on X, challenging Yesufu to publicly dispute the account if any details were inaccurate.
