Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has cautioned supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as ObiDENTs, against what he described as persistent attacks on the party and its leadership, warning that such actions undermine their own political objectives.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Dickson said the NDC was not indebted to any individual or political bloc, stressing that the party is instead providing a platform for presidential ambition without financial demands.
“If it’s easy, go and form your own party. You’re not doing NDC a favour. NDC is doing you a favour,” he declared.
Dickson’s comments come amid rising internal tensions within the NDC following the integration of political movements aligned with Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He insisted that the party had been built long before recent high-profile political alignments and should not be disparaged by those currently benefiting from its structure.
According to him, the NDC has had to operate under a compressed electoral timetable involving membership registration, congresses, national conventions, primaries, appeals, and reconciliation processes within a short period.
He acknowledged concerns raised by some aspirants over the conduct of the party’s primaries, noting that while the exercise was not perfect, the challenges reflected the realities of operating within Nigeria’s electoral framework and the provisions of the Electoral Act on direct primaries.
“I could have run. There’s no one more qualified than me to run for presidential candidate. None,” he said, while defending the party’s internal processes.
Dickson further dismissed claims that the presence of Obi and Kwankwaso had solely elevated the party, arguing instead that the NDC remains a structured political platform with established leadership and credibility.
“You cannot be supporting Peter Obi and at the same time disparaging the platform he is running on. That is nonsensical,” he said.
He maintained that the NDC remains united and stable, rejecting suggestions of internal crisis.
“The NDC leadership is intact, and there’s no crisis whatsoever,” he stated.
The former Bayelsa State governor also emphasized that the party’s leadership is working to ensure reconciliation and cohesion following its recent expansion, positioning the NDC as a major opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
