Seriake Dickson: We Let Peter Obi Choose Kwankwaso Freely

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has disclosed that the party granted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, full freedom to select his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, without any form of interference from the party leadership.

According to Ireporter Online, Dickson made the remarks during an NDC stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday, where he also revealed that Obi secured the party’s presidential ticket without making any financial payment.

Defending the party’s commitment to fairness and inclusiveness, Dickson questioned the expectations of Obi’s supporters, popularly known as the Obidients, stressing that the NDC had already demonstrated goodwill by offering the presidential ticket free of charge and allowing the candidate to independently choose his deputy.

He emphasized that neither he nor the party’s national chairman demanded money in exchange for the nomination, adding that the focus should now be on building unity and working collectively toward securing victory in the 2027 general elections.

Dickson reiterated that he remains open to supporting the aspirations of Obi and his supporters, insisting that collaboration rather than division would strengthen the party’s chances at the polls.

The former Bayelsa State governor also dismissed allegations that the NDC sells its nomination tickets or allows influential figures to dominate the candidate selection process.

Speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday, he described claims that certain individuals had captured party structures in some states as unfounded, insisting that no evidence had been presented to implicate the party’s national leadership in such practices.

He acknowledged that the party has received complaints from members in states such as Edo and Imo regarding alleged irregularities during the nomination process but maintained that these concerns are being addressed through established internal mechanisms.

Dickson explained that intense competition, with as many as 15 to 20 aspirants contesting for a single position, naturally gives rise to disputes and dissatisfaction among party members.

Responding to allegations that governorship tickets are awarded based on financial strength, he maintained that the NDC does not sell nomination forms or tickets, noting that no individual has produced evidence showing that the National Working Committee or the party’s leadership collected money in exchange for nominations.

While admitting that financial capacity is an important consideration in running a successful political campaign, Dickson stressed that assessing an aspirant’s ability to fund a viable election bid should not be mistaken for the commercialization of party tickets.

He concluded by affirming that although internal disagreements exist within the party, they are being managed through its institutional structures and should not be interpreted as signs of a systemic crisis.