The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has cautioned supporters of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, against disparaging the party that handed them its presidential ticket.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, Dickson dismissed claims of a crisis within the party, insisting that the NDC leadership remains united and focused ahead of the 2027 elections.
He expressed concern over what he described as efforts by some supporters to undermine the party while promoting its candidates, arguing that the NDC deserves recognition for providing the platform on which Obi and Kwankwaso are contesting.
“There is no crisis in the NDC,” Dickson said. “Peter Obi is a valued member of our party, and we chose him as our sole presidential candidate. That decision should count for something.”
According to him, many of the politicians now benefiting from the party’s platform were not involved in building the organisation from its early days.
“When we were registering this party, they were not there. They did not contribute financially to its formation. Nobody paid money for the presidential ticket. The NDC should be given some credit. No one is doing the party a favour. Rather, the party is giving them an opportunity by providing a platform,” he said.
Dickson also rejected allegations that the party sold nomination forms to the highest bidder.
He explained that aspirants were only asked to make donations and contributions to support party activities because the NDC is largely self-funded.
“We did not sell tickets to anybody. Aspirants were encouraged to contribute to party and campaign accounts. Those contributions were not payments for nominations,” he said.
The former Bayelsa governor also weighed in on the controversy surrounding direct primaries, faulting the National Assembly for making them mandatory.
He argued that political parties should be allowed to determine the method they use to select candidates, warning that direct primaries often produce conflicting claims of victory and disputed results.
According to him, stronger institutions are needed both within political parties and among election regulators to ensure transparent and credible primary elections.
His comments come amid growing debate over the conduct of party primaries and internal democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
