The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has warned political support groups against setting up structures that compete with the party’s official campaign machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dickson spoke on Tuesday while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, into the NDC in Abuja.
His comments came amid disagreement between the party and the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement (OK Movement), a support group backing the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over the creation of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council.
The OK Movement had announced the campaign council on September 17, but the NDC later distanced itself from the structure, saying it was not created by the party and should be disregarded.
The group subsequently said it did not require the party’s approval to carry out its organisational activities.
Speaking on the role of support groups, Dickson said such organisations were expected to mobilise support for candidates and work within the framework of the political party backing them.
“You have several support groups. Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy, for space.
“Support groups are what they are, support groups. They don’t play the role of a political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation support,” he said.
The former Bayelsa State governor said support groups should not turn against the parties they were established to support.
“They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsoring. They don’t attack the political party sponsoring. They don’t do that,” he added.
Dickson said the NDC had a department responsible for coordinating and registering support groups, adding that the party welcomed organisations willing to mobilise support for its candidates.
He described the creation of a presidential campaign council by a support group as unusual, urging those responsible for political education to address the situation.
“None of them will dare say they are setting up a presidential campaign council. It’s unheard of. Nonsensical. And those who have a duty to educate and call people to order should do so,” Dickson said.
The NDC leader, however, stressed that support groups remained important to the party’s campaign efforts but must operate within the established structure.
Meanwhile, the NDC said it was preparing its official Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.
The party said Obi and Kwankwaso had been authorised to nominate key officers of the council in consultation with the party leadership.
The positions include Director-General, Deputy Director-General for the North, campaign spokesman and deputy spokesman, Head of New Media, Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director.
The party said the arrangement followed consultations between Obi, Kwankwaso, Dickson and other leaders as it prepares to inaugurate the official campaign council.
