The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has said political support groups cannot create the party’s campaign council because they are not a political party.
Mr Dickson, a senator and former governor of Bayelsa State, spoke on Tuesday while receiving a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the NDC.
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A video clip which showed the former governor making the remarks has been circulating on Facebook.
Although the NDC’s national leader did not mention names, his comments were apparently in response to a face-off between the party’s leadership and the OK Movement over setting up of its presidential campaign council (PCC) for the 2027 election.
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The OK Movement, last Thursday, constituted a 59-member PCC to mobilise support for the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
But the NDC, on Saturday, disowned the support group, maintaining that the party would soon unveil its PCC for the 2027 election.
In response, the support group rejected the NDC’s position, insisting that it does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual within the party before setting up the PCC.
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‘Don’t compete with NDC’
Speaking during the event, Mr Dickson argued that support groups do not compete with a political party or its established structures that perform campaigns functions.
“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 national leader continued: “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.”
Mr Dickson stressed that support groups should not become critics of a political party sponsoring their choice candidates.
“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 stated.
READ ALSO: 2027: NDC gives Peter Obi, Kwankwaso power to pick campaign officials
The official hinted that, in order to have effective relationships with support groups, the NDC has a department responsible for coordinating and registering support groups.
He said the party welcomes and appreciates more organisations to join in mobilising support for its candidates.
“So, our advice to support groups is the more they are, the merrier. We have a role for you to play.
“Your work is huge. Focus on that work which is providing support for our candidates at grass root level,” he added.
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