Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has berated the Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement over the controversy that trailed the 59-member presidential campaign council list of the group.
Speaking after a meeting of NDC stakeholders in Abuja on
Tuesday, Dickson described the OK Movement’s decision to set up a campaign
council as “nonsensical”.
During the meeting, Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the
government of the federation (SGF), joined the NDC nearly four months after he
quit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on June 1.
On September 17, the OK Movement unveiled a 59-member
committee, comprising zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors
overseeing mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs,
other areas.
The movement said John Ughulu, its director-general, and
Saadatu Sani, the national secretary, would serve as the campaign council’s
director-general and secretary, respectively.
OK Movement is a political group supporting Peter Obi, NDC
presidential candidate, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his running mate, for the 2027
election.
On September 19, the NDC leadership distanced itself from
the campaign council constituted by OK Movement, saying the list did not
emanate from the party and should be disregarded.
Reacting to the statement from the NDC, the movement said it
does not require the approval of any individual within the party before
exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with
established processes.
‘SUPPORT GROUPS DON’T COMPETE WITH THEIR PARTY’
Speaking on the development, Dickson said as the name
implies, support groups are expected to provide support for the political party
sponsoring candidates.
The NDC national leader said support groups should not play
the role of political parties, act as critics, or compete with the political
party in which they belong.
“Support groups don’t compete with the political party that
is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy and
space,” he said.
“Support groups are what they are — support groups. They
don’t play the role of political party. They don’t sponsor candidates.
“They provide grassroots support and mobilisation. They
don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsored.
They don’t attack the political party sponsored.”
He added that every political party, including the All
Progressives Congress (APC), has support groups.
“None of them (referring to support groups in other parties)
will dare say they are setting up a presidential campaign council. It is
unheard of. Nonsensical,” he said.
“And those who had a duty to educate and call people to
order should do so.”
The NDC national leader said the party understands the roles
of support groups, adding that the platform is ready to work with them.
He said he had held meetings with Obidient groups, adding
that the more support groups within the NDC, the merrier.
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