- NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson has warned the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, against operating as a parallel structure to the party.
- His comments came after the NDC rejected a 59-member presidential campaign council announced by the support group as unauthorised.
National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson has criticised the activities of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, warning support groups backing the party’s 2027 presidential ticket against competing with the party or creating parallel structures.
Dickson spoke while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the NDC.
His comments followed the recent decision by the NDC to disown a 59-member presidential campaign council announced by the OK Movement, saying the structure was not authorised by the party.
Dickson said support groups were expected to mobilise voters and promote the party’s candidates rather than assume the functions of the political party.
“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 added, “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 the NDC had created room for different support groups, including Obidient groups, and urged them to work within the party structure.
He further said support groups should not establish competing campaign structures.
“None of them will dare say they are setting up a campaign, presidential campaign council. It’s unheard of. Nonsensical.”
The NDC leader urged the groups to focus on grassroots mobilisation, promoting the party and supporting its candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
The comments have generated mixed reactions online.
@profileGabrielJonathan: “Mr Dickson… Sometimes I wonder on whose side u are? Remember without Obi, you don’t have a party”
@paul.inyambe: “Must he say what they are doing is nonsensical in the public, how about engaging privately with the said support groups and clearly define their roles…🤔”
@justice.alakiri: “Support groups always operate under the campaign structure of the political party,mind you, His Excellency,Senator Dickson is highly experienced being a former governor who worked with Support groups to win governorship elections.”
@orji.wisdom.31: “Support groups abiding by party regulations shouldn’t be an issue…. Dickson haven’t said anything bad here.”
@Yousoup2N: “Its all about who’s going to control the campaign funds”
@JayJay: “But that’s the truth.
In as much as we want the OK ticket to succeed we must stand with the truth to get things right.
Parties are supreme and support groups are support groups.”
@romeo.omughele: “NDC is more concerned about campaign fund and not obi winning. To solve the problem, NDC should create their own campaign fund account while ok movement create their own campaigns fund account.”
