The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has dropped a bombshell: he and the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, offered activist Aisha Yesufu a House of Representatives ticket — and she rejected it.

Dickson made this known on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja. The briefing came amid controversy over the NDC's senatorial primaries for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) District.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that Yesufu was an aspirant for the FCT Senatorial District primaries. She alleged the process was manipulated against her.

But Dickson, speaking shortly after the NDC's stakeholders' meeting, stressed that Yesufu declined the House of Reps ticket despite intense 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.

The national leader added: "House of Representatives (ticket) that people are fighting for. But she's too big."

Dickson didn't say when the ticket was offered or which federal constituency in the FCT it was for.

He acknowledged that Yesufu has criticised the NDC and its leaders, but maintained she remains a party member. However, he suggested that those who believe in Obi's presidency should focus on building the party, not attacking its leaders.

"Anybody who believes in (Peter) Obi becoming president shouldn't be talking down on the NDC or the leadership. You're hurting yourself," he said in a veiled reference to Yesufu, who is an ally of Obi.

Yesufu is a well-known activist. She co-convened the #BringBackOurGirls movement, which pushed the government to rescue the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014. She's also been a vocal critic of successive governments and recently threw her weight behind Obi's presidential bid.

The NDC is a relatively new political party formed ahead of the 2023 elections. It positioned itself as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP). Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, is the party's presidential candidate.

Yesufu hasn't publicly responded to Dickson's claim. But her allegation that the FCT senatorial primaries were rigged has sparked debate within the party. Some supporters have called for an investigation, while others have rallied behind the party leadership.

Dickson's comments suggest a growing rift between the party's establishment and some of its high-profile supporters. The question now is whether this rift can be mended before the general elections.