Seriake Dickson Not Tinubu’s Mercenary — NDC

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed reports that its leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, is working for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party’s spokesman, Abdulmumin Ohiare Abdulsalam, said in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday that Dickson remained committed to the NDC’s political ideals, stressing that he is not a proxy for the ruling party.

“I want to categorically debunk the allegation or insinuation that our party or leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, is working for the APC.

“His Excellency, Senator Seriake Dickson, is a highly reputable politician with an unblemished record. He has been a leftist throughout his political career, rather than a centrist or far-right politician. He is a steadfast politician and a nationalist who has the interest of the nation at heart,” he said.

“I can confirm that Senator Seriake Dickson is not a mercenary working for President Tinubu or the ruling party. He is fully committed to the political ideals he is presenting to Nigerians and is working hard to ensure that the party emerges victorious in the 2027 elections and beyond,” he added.

Abdulsalam also said Dickson is part of party leaders alongside former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who are consulting on who emerges as the NDC’s presidential flag bearer.

He said, “For now, only Peter Obi has picked the presidential nomination form and has been successfully screened by the party’s screening committee.”

Abdulsalam emphasised that if no other contender picks the presidential nomination form, Obi would emerge as the party’s flag bearer, with Kwankwaso as his running mate.

The spokesman further clarified that the Fubara who recently joined the party is not the Rivers State governor, but his brother.

“The Fubara who actually joined the NDC is a brother of the incumbent governor, not Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Governor Fubara is not a member of our party and has not shown any intention, either covertly or openly, to join our party,” he said.

On party activities, Abdulsalam said the NDC was preparing for a by-election in Nasarawa following the death of a senator. He said Hon. Ishaya Dodo had earlier picked the nomination form to contest for a senatorial seat, adding that if Dodo wins, the party would not sell forms for the seat in 2027.

Abdulsalam noted that while the party was considering both consensus and primary elections for candidate selection, it remained committed to fair and transparent competition across states and constituencies.

“In some communities, constituencies, and senatorial zones, we will have to conduct primaries, while others may adopt affirmation through consensus candidates. It depends on the local political realities,” he said.

He stressed that the party was working to manage competing interests and avoid crises as aspirants across the federation continue to pick nomination forms.