Dickson Responds to Attacks from Peter Obi's Supporters

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has said the party is helping its candidates by giving them a chance to run for office in the 2027 general elections.

Mr Dickson, who is also a senator, spoke on Wednesday night as a guest on Prime Time, a show on Arise TV.

He was responding to criticisms made by some supporters of Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, towards certain NDC leaders.

Recent reports from PREMIUM TIMES show that some of Mr Obi's supporters criticized NDC leaders for being unfriendly to Obi's camp. They also accused other NDC leaders of siding with Labour Party members who are against Mr Obi’s ambitions.

During the Arise TV show, Mr Dickson urged supporters of Mr Obi to stop attacking the NDC or its leaders. He warned that such attacks could harm the platform their candidate is using to run.

“If you are genuinely supporting Peter Obi and you are disparaging me, the leader, or the platform itself. That is nonsensical,” he said.

Mr Dickson rejected the idea that the NDC should be thankful to Mr Obi and other prominent politicians for joining the party. He emphasized that Mr Obi or any candidate in the NDC is not doing the party any favors.

“Don’t make it look like anyone is doing NDC a favour. No one is.

“Rather, the NDC and I and my colleagues are doing people a favour by granting our platform,” he said.

He pointed out that the NDC has shown trust in Mr Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso by selecting them as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates without any internal fights.

“Nobody paid shishi. So, if a presidential candidate didn’t pay shishi to be made the sole presidential candidate and sole vice-presidential candidate, that same party cannot be the one saying that small people are underprivileged,” he said.

“Shishi” is a Nigerian term for “nothing” and is used to indicate no money was exchanged for something.

Mr Dickson also brushed off claims that he lacks the political strength to run for president, stating he could have led the NDC’s presidential campaign.

“There’s no one more qualified than me to run for the presidency of Nigeria. None. I could have run, but for some reasons I did not want to,” he said.

He proudly mentioned that before Mr Obi and Mr Kwankwaso joined the NDC, the party was already growing with other prominent politicians coming in.

“I received (Kabir) Marafa from Zamfara. I received Aishatu Dahiru Binani and several other people across the country for four to five months before Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso joined,” he said.

Despite the criticisms, Mr Dickson said Mr Obi is a valued member of the party.

“Peter Obi is a cherished member of our party. We are working well together. There’s no crisis,” he said.