National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has criticised the activities of the OK Movement, warning political support groups affiliated with the party against operating as parallel structures or competing with the party for political space and control.
Dickson spoke while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, into the NDC, where he addressed the relationship between the party and groups supporting its presidential ticket.
The NDC National Leader said support groups were expected to complement the activities of the political party rather than assume the functions of a political organisation.
“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,” Dickson said.
He maintained that support groups should concentrate on grassroots mobilisation and promoting candidates, rather than sponsoring candidates or presenting themselves as alternative political structures.
“Support groups don’t play the role of a political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation, and support. They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsored,” he said.
Dickson said the NDC had deliberately created space for support groups, including various Obidient organisations, to operate within the party’s broader campaign framework.
“The NDC from day one made it clear that we have a huge place, an important place for all support groups. I’ve actually held meetings with Obidient groups,” he said.
According to him, the party currently has thousands of support groups and remains open to receiving more, while maintaining that their activities should be coordinated within the party’s established structure.
“We have thousands of support groups, and many more are welcome,” Dickson said, adding that the NDC has a department responsible for coordinating and managing the various support organisations.
The former Bayelsa State governor also objected to support groups attacking the political party under which their candidates are contesting elections or establishing structures that could be interpreted as competing with the party.
“They don’t attack the political party sponsor. They don’t do that. Never in the history of political election, everywhere in the world,” he said.
Dickson specifically described the establishment of what he characterised as a separate presidential campaign structure by a support group as unacceptable.
“None of them will dare say they are setting up a campaign, presidential campaign council. It’s unheard of. Nonsensical,” he said.
The NDC leader acknowledged that support groups could adopt different approaches and levels of activism, but insisted that their fundamental role remained that of supporting the party and its candidates.
He therefore urged the groups to “confine themselves to their role” by mobilising voters at the grassroots, propagating the candidates and promoting the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The comments come amid heightened political mobilisation around the NDC presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, with several support organisations seeking to expand grassroots structures and coordinate campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
