*But Remains Committed to the Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket
By, Dr. Adesusu Maxwell Adodo
In the ongoing national conversation about coalition-building and the future of Nigeria’s opposition politics, clarity and context are very important. Recent interpretations of Senator Henry Seriake Dickson’s remarks during his appearance on Charles Aniagolu’s programme on Arise TV have generated unnecessary controversy.
It is important to address these distortions directly and reaffirm the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)’s principled position.
When Charles Aniagolu interviewed Senator Dickson, the framing suggested that the decision by Mr. Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to join the NDC represented a favour done to the Senator and the NDC. Senator Dickson immediately and firmly corrected this impression. Such a suggestion, he noted, is not only factually inaccurate but also disrespectful to his person, his legacy and the enormous sacrifices he has made in building a viable political platform for democratic renewal in Nigeria.
The Senator’s correction was not borne out of ego, but of truth. If any conversation about favours must arise, the accurate perspective is that Senator Dickson extended a significant gesture to the broader opposition movement. While they were in the ADC, Senator Dickson founded the party and offered the NDC’s platform to stranded opposition politicians across the country without demanding a kobo from any of them. As a leader with a distinguished record of public service, he was—and remains—fully qualified to contest the presidency himself.
Instead, he made the deliberate and statesmanlike choice to yield the platform in the interest of forging a stronger, more united political front capable of delivering the change Nigerians desperately need. That was the precise point he sought to make during the interview.
At no point did Senator Dickson assert that Mr. Peter Obi is not as qualified as himself. Regrettably, some overzealous supporters have taken segments of his comments out of context, weaponising them to launch unwarranted attacks on the Senator and the party leadership. This misinterpretation does a disservice to the spirit of unity the NDC is working to cultivate.
The purpose of the interview was to provide a broad overview of the legal framework that mandates direct primaries — a requirement that has, in turn, created challenges for all political parties in implementing them. He used the opportunity to assure Nigerians that concrete steps are being taken to correct the observed anomalies which occurred as a result of the constraint of time and the newness of the party. This was the core position and primary objective of the interview.
Senator Dickson’s credentials are beyond reproach. He has served as Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, spent two terms in the House of Representatives, governed Bayelsa State for two terms, and is currently serving his second term as Senator. Before then, he served as State Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), National Legal Adviser of the AD, and member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) representing Bayelsa. He was also an active Niger Delta activist who championed numerous causes in the region. These roles, combined with his deep background in law, governance, institution-building, and political organisation, place him on equal footing with any leader in the country.
The establishment of the NDC itself reflects his vision, commitment, and tireless efforts to create a credible alternative to the ruling party. He did this at a time when all opposition politicians were gravitating towards the APC and the ADC. He has been a lone voice in the Senate speaking against the misgovernance of the APC-led administration, and he is not someone who can be associated with seeking favours from aspirants, not even the ruling party. It is this integrity that he has built over the years that has attracted many people across the country, including the presidential candidate and the vice presidential candidate, into the party.
So, why would the people to whom he has offered a platform, along with his followers, choose to denigrate that platform and expect the man not to speak up? That was the caution he gave.
Having said that, he has since returned to his role as leader to accommodate and work with everyone. The hint has been given, and the sooner people learn not to come to a platform he accommodated and seek to demarket him, the better. Most Nigerians believe that the action was right and that there was no reason to be offended. However, he has reason to take offense and push back against that narrative.
Against this backdrop, it is both disrespectful and ungrateful for anyone to frame the entry of other leaders into the party as a favour done to Senator Dickson and the NDC. On the contrary, by willingly offering the platform at the disposal of the coalition, he demonstrated rare political maturity, sacrifice, humility, patriotism and generosity of spirit, a fact that must be acknowledged in any honest assessment.
As we intensify efforts to promote our candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, we must all embrace a higher standard of conduct. Promoting our standard-bearers is a shared responsibility, but it should never involve framing narratives that undermine the National Leader or other leaders of the party in order to elevate one individual. There is enough credit to go around.
We are partners in a common cause, working together for the good of Nigeria. This is not, and must never become, a competition of egos among ourselves.
In conclusion, while we must enthusiastically and vigorously promote our candidates, supporters and party members should be careful to avoid undermining, disparaging, or denting the image of the party, its leadership, or any individual within the movement. It is entirely possible and indeed necessary to champion our ticket with conviction and energy without diminishing anyone else.
True political maturity demands that we build up rather than tear down. Senator Seriake Dickson’s sacrifice and leadership exemplify this standard. He has since demonstrated it by welcoming the Obidient movement and the Kwankwasiyya movement and directing the party to assimilate them at the national and state levels. What more can one ask for? Let us honour it by maintaining unity, truth, and mutual respect as we march forward. Nigeria deserves nothing less.
Dr. Adesusu Maxwell Adodo is a public affairs analyst and writes from Lagos