ABUJA — The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has strongly cautioned political support organizations against establishing unauthorized structures that compete with or attempt to supplant the party’s official campaign machinery.
Speaking in Abuja while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the party fold, the former Bayelsa State governor dismissed attempts by external support organizations to unveil independent campaign councils ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The rebuke follows an escalating organizational rift between the party hierarchy and the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement (OK Movement)—a major support coalition backing the NDC’s presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The OK Movement had independently announced a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council, prompting the NDC national secretariat to disown the body and declare it null, void, and unconstitutional.
Reaffirming the constitutional boundaries governing political operations, Senator Dickson emphasized that while support groups remain vital for grassroots mobilization and voter engagement, they hold no legal standing to sponsor candidates or assume the statutory functions of a registered political party.
He criticized the OK Movement’s actions, noting that setting up an independent presidential campaign council without party oversight is historically unprecedented and administratively chaotic. He further cautioned support groups against transforming into internal critics or launching public attacks against the sponsoring party platform.
Clarifying the party’s operational roadmap, Dickson noted that the NDC maintains a dedicated department responsible for registering, auditing, and coordinating all legitimate support groups to ensure alignment with the official campaign command. He added that the party has already authorized presidential candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso to nominate key campaign council officers—including the Director-General, spokespersons, and finance directors—in direct consultation with party leadership prior to an official public inauguration.
