By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has rejected claims suggesting that Blessing Fubara, the elder sibling of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state for the 2027 polls.

The rebuttal is coming against the backdrop of Fubara’s appearance on Arise News programme  Friday night, June 12, 2026, during which he created the impression of being the NDC Governorship candidate in Rivers state.

The leadership of the NDC is yet to officially make known the outcome of its Rivers State gubernatorial primaries which featured Fubara and Alabo Dumo Lulu Briggs as prominent contenders about penultimate week ago.

Both the Rivers State and National Leadership of the NDC have continued to maintain sealed lips on who actually is the party’s Governorship flag bearer not just in Rivers State but, also, in many other states, a development which has given rise to varying and conflicting claims among the aspirants.

Speaking during Friday’s Arise News interview, Fubara emphasized that his quest to preside over the affairs of Rivers state has no direct and remote connection with his younger brother, the Governor.

While insisting on both of them having, and coming from mutually diverse political backgrounds, and orientation, the elder Fubara maintained that he  neither believes in, nor has a political godfather, outside God.

“I don’t have a godfather. But I have God as the father. You would also agree with me that if  my ambition is determined by the grounds you are mentioning, it would mean I have no clear vision or focus for what I am working towards.

” My brother, Nigerians, and indeed the wider world have seen what happened between him ( Gov Fubara) and his party . We have different political ideologies, and individual perspectives.

“It is a trying moment for us in Rivers state and there are all sorts of narratives. They come with different narratives ,and try to set up a perspective for the people to run with . But we are focused, with our eyes on the ball that the soul of Rivers state must be rescued”, the elder Fubara stated.

His clarification is coming on the heels of widespread perception that his ambition enjoys the tacit support of Governor Fubara, whose well known political differences ,and disagreements with his estranged political godfather , the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has led to his conspicuous absence from the battlefield ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, in a short statement on his official site the NDC’s Director of New Media,and Strategic Communications ,Theo Abu Agada, insisted that Fubara is not the party’s Rivers state Governorship candidate.

“This person ( Fubara ) is not the candidate of our party in Rivers state . Thank you for your attention to this matter”, Agada wrote.

The NDC leadership amidst growing tension and anxiety among aspirants, has, however, assured that the party will soon unveil a comprehensive list of its candidates for the 2027 polls.

By Ayodele Oni

National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has revealed that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi,initially offered activist Aisha Yesufu a ticket to contest for the House of Representatives, but she declined.

Dickson made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting of the party held in Abuja, amid ongoing internal disagreements within the party.

According to him, the offer was made as part of efforts to involve Yesufu in the party’s political structure, but she reportedly rejected it, saying she was “too big” for the position.

“AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency was offered to Aisha. Dickson told her, ‘I can do this one for her. Even if there are people who have been asking, this one I can give to her unopposed.

“I will make sure she emerges unopposed. No need for primaries. It will be: this is who the party is going with, full stop. This is Peter Obi’s candidate. This is Seriake Dickson’s candidate, full stop.’

“Aisha declined. Apparently she is too big for the House of Representatives; she wants to start with the Senate.

“Even our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, told Aisha, ‘See, take this thing. If I am lying, Aisha should respond and tell me that I am lying.’ He told Aisha, ‘Take this thing. This is good for your career. This is good for your trajectory. You have not been in an elective office before.’

“Aisha said no.

“For two days, Dickson sat down with Aisha and was telling her to take it. Obi called her. In fact, to show faith, they left it for 24 hours before the primaries. It was still for Aisha if she had just agreed to have it given to her.

“She declined. She did not agree.

“Dickson even told her, ‘Even me, I started my elective office as House of Representatives. Start from somewhere. You are young. You are energetic.’

“Aisha did not agree.

“What would Dickson do? He had given his word to somebody. The same way he gave his word to Obi that he would be the presidential candidate, he cannot go back on it. He is a man of his word.

“What now? Aisha goes around blackmailing the party, saying all sorts of things. You would assume that the party cheated her unfairly.

“Meanwhile, eventually 23 people picked forms for the House of Representatives seat, something that was offered to Aisha Yesufu: ‘Take it, it is all yours. The party will agree that you are a consensus candidate and that will be it.’

“Or, worst-case scenario, they tell all the people who had shown interest, ‘Take back your money, this one has gone to Aisha Yesufu.”

The clarification is coming following Aisha Yesufu’s remarks accusing Dickson of over assessing himself.

She write on her X “With all due respect sir, it looks as if you consider the NDC a Special Purpose Vehicle whose aim has been achieved just by being registered instead of a political party whose aim is to win the 2027 general election decisively,” she added.

Yesufu maintained that the party’s immediate priority should be electoral victory in 2027, warning that internal ego battles and poor conflict management could undermine that goal.

She urged leaders to adopt humility in handling disputes, insisting that effective leadership requires accountability and the ability to unify divergent interests within the party.

“No one can take away your leadership of NDC, no one is interested in that! The focus is Nigeria winning the 2027 election,” she wrote.

The presidential candidate of the National Democ ratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, on Democracy Day, June 12, held strategic meetings with key party figures as part of ongoing consultations aimed at strengthening the party’s internal cohesion and political direction.

In a statement shared via his social media account, Obi said he met with the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, and the NDC Vice Presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. He described the discussions as “useful” and centred on consolidating what he referred to as the “New Nigeria that is Possible.”

Obi noted that although the NDC is a relatively new political platform, it remains committed to building what he described as a future-focused party, despite the challenges it faces. He said the engagements reflected a shared resolve among party leaders to deepen cooperation and strengthen institutional trust.

According to him, sustaining unity within the party requires sacrifice, tolerance, and accommodation among members, particularly in difficult political circumstances. He added that such values are essential for building confidence and advancing a common vision for national transformation.

He concluded that the NDC remains committed to offering what he termed purposeful and compassionate leadership, anchored on productivity and democratic principles, as part of its broader ambition to drive national renewal.