National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has said the party gave its presidential ticket to Peter Obi without collecting money from him and also allowed him to choose his running mate without interference.
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Dickson spoke on Thursday at an NDC stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, amid growing internal disagreements within the party following its primaries and recent criticisms from some members and supporters.
He also disclosed that he and Obi offered former NDC senatorial aspirant, Aisha Yesufu, a House of Representatives ticket, but she allegedly turned it down.
According to Dickson, the offer was made in relation to the Federal Capital Territory, but Yesufu rejected it.
“Now, talking about the FCT, do you know that Peter Obi and I offered Aisha Yesufu a House of Representatives ticket, but she turned it down?” Dickson said.
“House of Representatives that people are fighting for, she said she’s too big for it.”
His comment came after Yesufu, in a post on her verified X handle, accused Dickson of appearing insecure and competing with the party’s presidential candidate.
She had also said the NDC National Leader seemed to be fighting a war no one was waging against him.
Responding to recent attacks on the party, Dickson urged party leaders to call their supporters to order, warning that the party would not allow anyone to destroy the image of others within the NDC.
“I can’t get why some people are painting the NDC in a bad light and why their leaders can’t call their supporters to order, for God’s sake,” he said.
He said when Obi and his supporters came into the party, the NDC accepted them as partners with the understanding that all sides would work together to build the platform and contest the 2027 general elections.
“When they came in, we accepted that we are going to be partners and build this platform together. They are our flag bearers, all of us will support them to go through the general elections and bring Nigerians a government that they deserve,” Dickson said.
“We are not going to allow anyone to destroy anybody’s image when you have just come into the party and we have done everything for you.”
Dickson also defended the party’s position on party supremacy, saying Obi was present when the motion was moved and adopted.
According to him, the motion on party supremacy was moved by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and seconded by Senator Victor Umeh before it was put to vote and passed.
“His Excellency, Peter Obi, was there when this motion on party supremacy was moved by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and seconded by Senator Victor Umeh, and it was put to vote and passed,” he said.
Dickson said the NDC does not want a situation where any elected official wins election on the party’s platform and later runs a one-man government.
He said all elected officers of the party would be expected to implement the programmes and policies of the NDC, rather than act according to their personal preferences.
“Every elected officer of this party must implement the programmes and policies not according to his or her whims and caprices, but programmes and policies of this party that will be analysed, discussed, debated, and agreed,” he said.
He added that appointments and nominations under the party would be done with the consensus of the party and stakeholders at all levels.
“Government policies and programmes must align with the party’s, and a team is fine-tuning certain things, which we will present to the public,” he said.
“Appointments and nominations will be done with consensus of the party and stakeholders at all levels.”
Dickson also addressed the party’s directive mandating affiliated groups, including the Obidient Movement, to operate under NDC supervision.
He said the objective was to build a strong political institution and avoid a situation where the party becomes merely a vehicle for individuals.
On party finance, Dickson said every donation to the NDC must be paid into the party’s designated bank account for accountability and proper auditing.
He said no party official, including himself as National Leader, would be allowed to personally spend party funds.
“We direct that every donation should go into the party’s designated account so that it can be audited and handled by INEC that has the power to audit it when necessary,” he said.
“We’ll even tell the public so that people who are donating to support will know that the money will not be spent by the chairman or national leader or secretary.”
Dickson said the party was creating systems to avoid the kind of financial mismanagement he had witnessed in other political parties.
“I was in parties, we raised money for party. Before you know, you would hear that there’s no money again. We don’t want NDC to follow that road. So people should bear with us. These are the systems we are creating,” he said.
The former governor further stated that Obi was given the NDC presidential ticket free of charge and was allowed to pick his running mate without interference from the party leadership.
“We gave Obi the presidential ticket free of charge and allowed him to choose his vice presidential candidate without any interference from the party. What else do people want?” he asked.
“I will have no issues giving the presidential nomination to them. And like I said last night, nobody demanded money from them. Not me or the national chairman.”
Dickson said the party should now focus on unity and victory in 2027 rather than internal disputes.
“At this point, we should be working together to ensure victory at the polls come 2027, and I believe we can do it,” he said.
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