By Oscar Okhifo
Activist and former Federal Capital Territory senatorial aspirant Aisha Yesufu, has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress of manipulating its senatorial primary election, alleging that the exercise was structured to produce a predetermined winner rather than reflect the will of party members.
In a statement posted on her X account on Saturday, Yesufu said the process fell short of the transparency and fairness expected in a democratic contest, alleging that party officials compromised established procedures and denied delegates the opportunity to freely determine the outcome.
The activist, who recently joined the NDC from the African Democratic Congress and declared her intention to contest the FCT Senate seat on May 6, said she entered the race believing the party would provide a level playing field for all aspirants.
However, she claimed the primary process was altered in ways that undermined its credibility and raised serious questions about internal democracy within the party.
Describing the exercise as “a predetermined outcome dressed in procedural formalities,” Yesufu argued that the result appeared to have been decided long before delegates were called upon to participate.
According to her, significant changes were made to the process without adequate consultation or notice to stakeholders.
“The delegate-based process was introduced to be conducted at a central location instead of direct primaries at Local Government headquarters,” she said.
She further alleged that the eventual decision-making process was removed from public scrutiny.
“When the moment came, the contest was not decided by delegates in the open; it was affirmed in a closed room, away from the people whose voices it was supposed to reflect,” she stated.
Yesufu maintained that the conduct of the primary violated the spirit of internal democracy and fell below the standards expected under the Electoral Act.
“The party may go on to release statements about the free and fair nature of the primary, but the facts that transpired, when weighed against conscience and the guidelines of the Electoral Act, do not reflect justice and fairness,” she said.
The former aspirant stressed that she did not withdraw from the race and insisted that what should have been a competitive contest was effectively concluded before delegates had an opportunity to make a genuine choice.
Her allegations come amid growing scrutiny of political party primaries across the country, with disputes over candidate selection becoming a recurring feature of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yesufu also linked her experience to concerns previously raised by actor-turned-politician and NDC chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, who had alleged that the party’s nomination process was manipulated and effectively predetermined.
The activist argued that the controversy underscores the need for political parties to strengthen internal democratic mechanisms and ensure that nomination processes reflect the wishes of members rather than the preferences of a select few.
Despite her dissatisfaction with the outcome, she indicated that she would not pursue a prolonged internal battle over the exercise.
“I have chosen not to engage in a prolonged grievance process. Instead, I will take the lessons from this experience and move forward with clarity and conviction,” she said.
The controversy comes amid reports that the party may have settled for another aspirant, Amanda Pam, as its preferred candidate for the FCT Senate seat. However, as of the time of filing this report, the NDC had not formally announced the outcome of the primary or publicly responded to Yesufu’s allegations.
The claims have triggered mixed reactions on social media, with some users expressing disappointment over what they viewed as a contradiction between the party’s stated ideals and the allegations of manipulation.
“Is NDC not supposed to represent change? So they are also manipulators? Na waoo!” one X user wrote.
Others, however, questioned Yesufu’s political strategy and electoral appeal.
“This woman talks too much and insults people. How is she supposed to win in Abuja, an area full of woke people? She thinks they don’t watch her daily insults? Make she rest!” another user posted.
On Facebook, a commenter identified as Ade-Bee-see dismissed claims of manipulation, arguing that grassroots political structures, rather than social media popularity, determine outcomes in party contests.
“There are no polling stations on social media. They don’t do primaries there. She was jumping from TV stations to radio stations and from X to Facebook and Instagram. Zero grassroots level. Nobody rigged her out. She challenged person wei passed her and lost,” the commenter wrote.
The differing reactions reflect the wider debate generated by Yesufu’s allegations, with supporters questioning the credibility of the primary while critics argue that the outcome may simply have reflected political realities within the party.
As of press time, the NDC had yet to issue an official response to the claims, although party officials had previously assured members that the primary process would be conducted transparently and in accordance with the party’s constitution and democratic principles.