The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ridiculed activist and politician Aisha Yesufu following her failure to secure the senatorial ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in the FCT.
Speaking at a political gathering organised by the Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt, Wike said critics who frequently attack political leaders on social media often struggle when faced with the realities of electoral politics.
Yesufu had recently joined the NDC from the African Democratic Congress and declared her intention to contest for the FCT Senate seat. However, controversy emerged after reports indicated that the party had settled for another aspirant, Amanda Pam.
Reacting to the development, Wike mocked Yesufu’s inability to emerge as the party’s candidate, saying that despite all the “grammar” and criticism directed at him, she could not win “an ordinary NDC primary.”
The FCT minister argued that political success requires more than media appearances and public commentary, stressing that practical political experience remains crucial in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Meanwhile, Yesufu has maintained that she did not voluntarily withdraw from the race. She alleged that the process was marred by injustice and irregularities, claiming that she could not compromise her principles in a contest she believed violated due process.
The development has sparked reactions across political circles, especially among supporters of Peter Obi, with whom Yesufu has been closely associated.
