Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, National Leader and Founder of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has firmly stated that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is not more qualified than him to contest for the presidency of Nigeria. He added that Obi and other prominent figures are not doing the party any favour by joining its platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a recent television interview, Senator Dickson pushed back against suggestions from some supporters of the NDC’s presidential candidate that the party should be grateful to high-profile joiners. He emphasized that the NDC, as a growing opposition force, is extending opportunities to capable leaders rather than receiving favours.
“No one is more qualified than me to run for president. I could have run for president before they came,” Senator Dickson declared. “Peter Obi is not more qualified to be president than me... Nobody is doing NDC a favour. Rather, the NDC and my colleagues are doing people a favour by granting our platform to them.”
The senator, a former Governor of Bayelsa State and a seasoned legislator, highlighted the NDC’s rapid growth and its role in uniting influential political figures, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. He noted that the party’s structures were built through years of strategic engagement and that offering its platform to aspirants demonstrates confidence in their potential, not dependence on them.
Senator Dickson cautioned against internal attacks on the party leadership, warning that disparaging the NDC while claiming to support its candidates undermines the shared goal of providing a strong alternative for Nigerians in 2027.
“We have attracted strong membership and earned the trust of distinguished Nigerian political leaders,” he said. “The NDC is not a placeholder but a viable vehicle for credible leadership and national progress.”
The NDC continues to consolidate its position as a formidable opposition party, focusing on good governance, economic reform, and national unity.