National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has criticised the activities of the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, saying support groups affiliated with the party should not operate as parallel structures or compete with the political party for control.
Dickson spoke on Tuesday while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, into the NDC, amid a dispute over a presidential campaign council announced by the OK Movement for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Key Highlights
- Seriake Dickson says support groups should not compete with the political party that sponsors their candidates.
- The NDC national leader criticised the OK Movement’s attempt to establish a separate presidential campaign structure.
- The NDC had earlier rejected the 59-member campaign council announced by the OK Movement.
- Dickson said support groups should focus on grassroots mobilisation and promoting the party’s candidates.
- The NDC says only its authorised structures can establish formal campaign organs.
- The dispute comes as the NDC prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Dickson Rejects Parallel Political Structures
Dickson said support groups should complement political parties rather than compete with them for influence or control.
“Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy, for space. Support groups are what they are: support groups,” he said.
He added that support groups should not assume the functions of political parties by sponsoring candidates or establishing independent campaign structures.
“Support groups don’t play the role of a political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation, and support. They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsored,” Dickson said.
NDC Says Support Groups Are Welcome
Dickson said the NDC had created room for support groups, including organisations backing its presidential ticket.
“The NDC from day one made it clear that we have a huge place, an important place for all support groups. I’ve actually held meetings with Obidient groups,” he said.
According to him, the party has thousands of support groups and remains open to more organisations working within its structure.
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“We have thousands of support groups, and many more are welcome,” Dickson said, adding that the NDC has a department responsible for coordinating and managing the groups.
He urged support organisations to concentrate on grassroots mobilisation, promoting the party and its candidates rather than creating structures that could compete with the NDC.
NDC-OK Movement Dispute
The comments followed a recent dispute between the NDC and the OK Movement after the support group announced a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 election.
The NDC subsequently dissociated itself from the announcement, saying the campaign council was not authorised by the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media.
The party said its National Working Committee has the authority to establish formal campaign structures.
The development has led to a debate over the relationship between the NDC and support groups backing Obi and Kwankwaso, particularly over the control and coordination of the party’s 2027 campaign machinery.
Dickson: Support Groups Must “Confine Themselves” to Their Role
Dickson said support groups could adopt different levels of activity but should remain within their defined role.
“They don’t attack the political party sponsor. They don’t do that. Never in the history of political election, everywhere in the world,” he said.
He described the creation of a separate presidential campaign council by a support group as “unheard of” and “nonsensical.”
Dickson urged support groups to “confine themselves to their role” by supporting the party’s candidates, mobilising at the grassroots and promoting the NDC.
“Providing support for our candidates, galvanising support at the grassroots level, propagating the candidates and the party,” he said.
The dispute comes as the NDC continues preparations for the 2027 general elections and seeks to coordinate its official party structures with the various support organisations backing its presidential ticket.
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