The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has drawn a clear line between the party and support groups backing its 2027 presidential ticket, warning them against assuming the functions of the party or competing with its official campaign structures.
Dickson said support groups mobilising for presidential candidate Peter Obi and vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso remained important to the party’s electoral effort, but must operate strictly as support organisations.
His warning followed the controversy surrounding the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, which recently announced a 59-member presidential campaign council before the NDC publicly dissociated itself from the structure.
Speaking when the party received former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, at his Abuja residence on Tuesday, Dickson said support groups had no mandate to establish structures that could rival those of the party.
“Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy, for space,” he said.
“Support groups are what they are: support. They don’t play the role of the political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation support.”
Dickson said support groups should concentrate on mobilising voters, propagating the party’s candidates and working with the NDC’s campaign structures at the state and grassroots levels.
He also warned the groups against attacking or publicly criticising the political party sponsoring the candidates they support.
“They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsoring them. They don’t attack the political party sponsoring them,” he said.
The NDC leader described the creation of a presidential campaign council by a support group as an unusual development, saying the responsibility for establishing the official campaign structure belonged to the party.
“Never in the history everywhere in the world have support groups set up a presidential campaign council. It’s unheard of and those who have a duty to educate and call people to order should do so,” Dickson said.
He stressed, however, that the NDC was not opposed to support organisations and would continue to work with them as the 2027 elections approach.
“That does not mean that they don’t have a role. We work with them. There’s a role for them. Link with the campaign teams when set up, link with the party at the grassroots and in the states and galvanise support,” he said.
Dickson also defended the party’s approach to recent National Assembly by-elections, saying the NDC had chosen to conserve its limited resources for the 2027 general elections.
“You know, by-elections are not things an opposition party and a new party should come and dissipate energy on,” he said.
“The small resources you have, you go and push your agenda. We are waiting to mobilise and show strength… in the main election.”
He said the party’s campaign activities would become more visible as preparations intensify, particularly towards January and February 2027.
“You will see the strength of NDC. In fact, you will see it before then, when we roll out our campaigns,” he said.
Dickson also condemned reported attacks and violence against opposition parties in various parts of the country, urging security agencies to identify perpetrators and ensure they face the law.
He cited reported incidents in Benue, Imo, Lagos and other states, saying political violence must not be allowed to undermine the electoral process.
“There have to be consequences for that misbehaviour and encouragement of violence and criminality and brigandage,” he said.
Dickson urged political parties, support groups and other stakeholders to respect their respective roles and the rules of democratic competition as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.