A growing rift is reportedly emerging within the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) between the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his longtime supporter, Aisha Yesufu.
Yesufu has been one of Obi’s most vocal supporters since the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, when he contested under the platform of the Labour Party (LP). She was a prominent figure on Obi’s campaign trail, openly mobilising support for his presidential bid.
Although Obi finished third in the 2023 election behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Yesufu reportedly maintained her support for him as preparations for the 2027 elections gathered momentum.
She subsequently followed Obi into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after his departure from the LP and later into the NDC, where Obi eventually secured the party’s presidential ticket.
However, tensions reportedly surfaced after Yesufu’s ambition to secure the NDC’s senatorial ticket for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was rejected.
According to reports, party leaders declined her bid and instead gave the ticket to another female aspirant who was relatively unknown in political circles.
The development reportedly angered Yesufu, who accused the party leadership of marginalising her.
“I am not even asking for a level playing field; I only needed a field,” she was quoted as saying.
Sources familiar with developments within the party claim that relations between Yesufu and Obi have since become strained. The reports further suggest that Yesufu has declined an invitation to join Obi’s campaign train ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
One of the issues reportedly fuelling her discontent is the perceived influence of Obi’s running mate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, whose political allies are said to have secured several key party tickets across different regions.
Yesufu is reportedly questioning why Kwankwaso was able to advance the interests of his loyalists, particularly in the North and Southeast, while Obi allegedly failed to exert similar influence in securing tickets for his own supporters.
The alleged disagreement has since developed into what party insiders describe as a “silent war,” with the extent of the rift between Obi and Yesufu potentially carrying implications for the NDC’s campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
Neither Obi nor Yesufu has publicly confirmed the reported dispute.
