Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has warned support groups backing the party’s presidential ticket against competing with the party or assuming the functions of its official campaign structures.
Dickson spoke on Tuesday when the NDC received Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), at Dickson’s residence in Abuja.
He said support groups have an important role to play in mobilising voters and promoting the candidacies of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 elections but must operate within clearly defined boundaries.
His comments followed a recent dispute over the activities of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, a support group for the NDC presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The movement recently announced a 59-member presidential campaign council, prompting the NDC to dissociate itself from the structure, saying it did not emanate from the party.
Dickson said the emergence of multiple support groups was normal in electoral politics, but stressed that they must complement rather than rival the political party.
“These are things that we are taking for granted. We must have support groups. As party managers and experienced people who have been in the trade, these are normal things,” he said.
Dickson said support groups should not compete with the party sponsoring their candidates or seek supremacy within its structures.
“Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy, for space,” he said.
“They don’t play the role of the political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation support.”
He said the NDC had a structure responsible for coordinating support groups and would continue to welcome organisations willing to mobilise support for its candidates.
Dickson said support groups should link up with campaign teams when established, as well as with the party’s structures at the grassroots and state levels.
“Your work is huge. Big. So focus on that work, which is providing support for our candidates, galvanising support at the grassroots level, propagating the candidates and the party. That’s the way it is done,” he said.
On the NDC’s performance in recent National Assembly by-elections, Dickson said the party was deliberately conserving its 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.
He said the party would deploy its resources towards the general elections and that its strength would become more visible as its campaigns gather momentum.
“We are waiting to mobilise and show strength, as you said, in the main election,” he said.
“You will see the strength of NDC. In fact, you will see it before then, when we roll out our campaigns.”
Dickson also condemned attacks and violence against opposition parties in different parts of the country and called on security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
“There have to be consequences for that misbehaviour and encouragement of violence and criminality and brigandage,” he said.
He urged security agencies to take action against perpetrators of political violence, including those responsible for attacks in Benue, Imo and Lagos states.
Dickson also called on political actors to respect the rules of the electoral contest ahead of the 2027 elections.
