The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has warned that support groups backing the party and its presidential ticket must not attempt to compete with official party structures or assume their functions.
Dickson’s comments came amid a dispute over the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, a support organisation for the NDC’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, which recently announced a 59-member presidential campaign council. The party has dissociated itself from the council, stating it did not emanate from the NDC.
Speaking when the party received former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal at his Abuja residence on Tuesday, Dickson said the emergence of multiple support groups was normal in electoral politics but stressed clear boundaries.
“Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy, for space,” he said. “Support groups are what they are: support. They don’t play the role of the political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation support.”
He added that such groups must not become critics of the party they support. “They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsoring them. They don’t attack the political party sponsoring them. They don’t do that.”
Dickson noted that the NDC maintains a structure to coordinate support organisations and would continue to welcome groups willing to mobilise for its candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Never in the history everywhere in the world have support groups set up a campaign presidential campaign council. It’s unheard of and those who have a duty to educate and call people to order should do so,” he said.
He emphasised that support groups still had an important role. “That does not mean that they don’t have a role. We work with them. There’s a role for them. Link with the campaign teams when set up, link with the party at the grassroots and in the states and galvanise support.”
Dickson also said the party was conserving resources rather than focusing heavily on recent by-elections, preferring to demonstrate strength in the main 2027 contest. He further condemned alleged attacks on opposition parties and called on security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
