By James Adamu
The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has addressed supporters of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, warning them against disparaging the party’s leadership while they claim to support the former Labour Party presidential candidate.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Wednesday night, Dickson addressed the growing tension between the NDC leadership and some Obidients, who have reportedly criticised the party’s internal structure and decisions regarding campaign fund management .
The former Bayelsa State governor insisted that the narrative being pushed by some supporters is not only inaccurate but also dangerous, stressing that nobody is doing the NDC any favour by contesting on its platform.
In a blunt response to those questioning the party’s leadership, Dickson declared that he is the most qualified to run for president, even though he voluntarily chose not to.
“I could have run. There’s no one more qualified than me to run for president of Nigeria. None,” Dickson said. “You are talking of names because they have tried. And for some reasons, I did not want to. So don’t make it look like anyone is doing NDC a favour” .
He argued that rather than the party owing its visibility to new entrants, it is the NDC that is granting a platform to politicians to actualise their ambitions.
“Rather, the NDC and I, and my colleagues, are doing people a favour by granting our platform to them. And that narrative is important,” he stated.
Dickson specifically took aim at supporters who attack the party while claiming allegiance to Obi, describing such behaviour as irrational.
“You cannot be supporting Peter Obi, if you are genuinely supporting him, and you are disparaging me, the leader, or the platform itself. That is nonsensical,” he said.
He warned that weakening the NDC ultimately undermines the very candidate these supporters claim to back, noting that the party is the vehicle that will take Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to the Presidential Villa in 2027.
The NDC leader threw down a challenge to critics who believe they could run the party better, daring them to form their own political platform.
“If it were easy for people to form a party, well, form yours. If it were easy,” Dickson declared .
Dickson dismissed reports of an internal crisis within the NDC, insisting that the leadership remains intact and that Obi and Kwankwaso remain cherished members of the party .
He further clarified that neither Obi nor Kwankwaso paid a single naira to secure the party’s presidential and vice-presidential tickets, contrary to rumours in some quarters.
“They didn’t pay one naira. They didn’t pay ‘shishi’. Nobody pays ‘shishi’,” the senator emphasised.
Dickson also recalled that before Obi and Kwankwaso joined, the NDC had already received several prominent politicians across the country, including Senator Binani from Adamawa and Marafa from Zamfara.
Despite the friction with some supporters, Dickson expressed confidence in the NDC’s chances in the 2027 general election, arguing that Nigerians are united in their desire to oust the ruling APC over issues of insecurity, economic hardship, and national division .
He called on all supporters to focus on the key issues affecting the country rather than engaging in internal bickering.
“The NDC leadership is intact and there is no crisis whatsoever. We have been able to enjoy the confidence of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, and we are working well together,” Dickson concluded .
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