Activist and former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senate aspirant, Aisha Yesufu, has alleged that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) manipulated its senatorial primary election, insisting that the process was compromised to produce a predetermined outcome.

In a statement released on Saturday on her X platform, Yesufu said the primary fell short of the transparency and fairness expected of a democratic contest, accusing party officials of undermining the will of members.

She described the exercise as “a predetermined outcome dressed in procedural formalities,” arguing that the result had effectively been decided before delegates were called to vote.

According to her, key aspects of the process were altered without adequate notice, while established party procedures were allegedly ignored, raising concerns about the credibility of the exercise.

“The delegate-based process was introduced to be conducted at a central location instead of direct primaries at Local Government headquarters,” she said.

“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.”

Yesufu, 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 expecting a transparent and competitive process.

She further alleged that the conduct of the primary breached the spirit of the Electoral Act and fell short of the standards of openness and accountability expected in internal party democracy.

“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 stated.

The activist maintained that she neither withdrew from the race nor abandoned her ambition, insisting that the process was effectively subverted before a genuine contest could take place.

She added that the experience highlights the need for stronger internal democracy within political parties, arguing that nomination processes must reflect the genuine choices of members rather than the preferences of a few individuals.

Yesufu’s allegations also align with earlier claims by ADC chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo, who had alleged that the NDC primary process was manipulated, predetermined, and effectively “sold to the highest bidder,” raising further concerns about transparency within the party’s nomination structure.

Despite her concerns, Yesufu said she would not engage in a prolonged internal dispute, stressing that she intends to focus on broader civic advocacy and accountability in governance.

“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 NDC had settled for another aspirant, Amanda Pam, as its preferred candidate for the FCT Senate seat, though the party has not publicly confirmed the outcome of the primary or formally addressed the claim at the time of filing this report.

Yesufu’s allegations have since sparked mixed reactions on social media, with users divided over both the conduct of the primary and her political standing.

On X, some users expressed disappointment at the allegations. “Is NDC not supposed to represent change? So they are also manipulators? Na waoo!” one user wrote.

Others were more critical of Yesufu, questioning her political strategy and public conduct.

“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 insu”ts? Make her rest!” another user said.

On Facebook, a commenter identified as Ade-Bee-see argued that the outcome reflected grassroots realities rather than manipulation.

“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 reactions highlight the divided public opinion over both the credibility of the primary and Yesufu’s standing within the party.

As of the time of filing this report, the NDC had not responded to Yesufu’s allegations, although it had previously maintained that its primary process would be transparent and conducted in line with party rules and democratic principles. (Saturday Independent)

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