NDC made major sacrifice by giving Obi, Kwankwaso free tickets – Dickson

The National Leader of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, revealed that the political party gave out the presidential flag bearer of 2027 to Peter Obi without demanding for money from him and that the former Anambra governor was also permitted to freely choose his running mate without any interference from the party’s top brass.

The above statement was made by Dickson during a stakeholders’ gathering held in NDC on Thursday, following continued tensions between certain members of the Obidient Movement and NDC leadership.

In the opinion of the former Bayelsa State governor, the Nigerian opposition political party has done quite a lot in favor of Peter Obi and other like-minded individuals for the purposes of having a strong opposition to the forthcoming elections of 2027.

“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?” Dickson said.

“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.

“At this point we should be working together to ensure victory at the polls come 2027, and I believe we can do it.”

His comments come barely 24 hours after he dismissed claims that the NDC should be grateful to Obi for emerging as its presidential candidate, arguing instead that the party was offering politicians a platform to pursue their ambitions.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday, Dickson also  rejected suggestions that Obi or any other politician was doing the party a favour by joining its ranks.

“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 had said.

The senator had also criticised supporters of Obi who allegedly attack the party and its leadership, warning that such actions could undermine the same political platform expected to deliver victory in 2027.

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

He further revealed that neither Obi nor other top beneficiaries of the party’s ticket paid for their nominations, describing the arrangement as evidence of the party’s commitment to inclusiveness and internal democracy.

“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 stated.

Dickson also maintained that the NDC had established itself as a national political force before the arrival of Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stressing that the party’s relevance was not dependent on any individual politician.