Candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) whose names were recently published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have heaped praise on the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
There had been considerable anxiety among aspirants seeking to contest elections on the NDC platform, particularly those vying for seats in the National Assembly, following the delay in the publication of the candidates’ list. Much of that apprehension has now been allayed by the latest development, with the former Bayelsa State Governor widely credited as the stabilising force who restored calm amid tensions that threatened to tear the young party apart.
Many of the candidates whose names have now been gazetted said they were especially grateful to Dickson, not only for rescuing their political careers—which had seemed bleak under what they described as the ruling APC’s drift towards a one-party state and its characteristic emasculation of opposition voices—but also for doing so transparently and without exploiting aspirants financially.
Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, the NDC candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, said: “The National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, deserves accolades for the way he navigated the trying times in which the primaries, reconciliations and the nomination of candidates were finally concluded. Nobody is perfect, but he acted in the interest of our party, NDC.”
Nwaogu, a member of the 8th Senate, also commended Dickson for his political dexterity and the high sense of discipline and leadership he continues to display. She appealed to party members, aspirants and candidates to remain united, saying: “I appeal to aspirants who did not get tickets to see this as a contest in which those who lost today can win tomorrow. They should work with our party to ensure its victory in the 2027 elections.”
Contrary to insinuations that tickets were sold to the highest bidders, some candidates said the NDC primaries, though not perfect, “were arguably the freest, fairest and most transparent of all the primaries conducted by all the major political parties”.
A Canada-based aspirant who lost his bid for a House of Representatives ticket also commended the party leadership and the National Leader for the manner in which they handled the often delicate processes.
“I am a front-row witness to most of what transpired,” he said. “All the National Leader has been doing since after the primaries has been settling the misunderstandings that arose either directly from the venues of the primaries or from the handling of disputes by respective state leaders and stakeholders charged with harmonising the various interest groups.
“None of these issues was created by the National Leader, who, by the way, did not interfere with the work of either the respective state stakeholders or the various committees sent by the party to conduct the primaries. Instead, he has spent the last two or three months settling and reconciling all of us aspirants and stakeholders.”
Another aspirant from Edo State dismissed allegations of financial inducement, saying: “On the allegation that the tickets were being sold to the highest bidder, I, for one, can tell you boldly that I visited the National Leader no fewer than three times, with party leaders and aspirants from my state. Not once was the issue of money ever discussed. Nobody can claim he ever gave money to Senator Dickson. I am sure he would have walked you out of his house if you ever tried to offer him any money.”
According to the aspirant, Dickson has made tremendous sacrifices since the NDC was in its embryonic stage and continues to do so. “He hardly sleeps. It is taking a huge toll on several other things he is doing, and even on his health,” he said.
He called on all party members to work together to deliver the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as all NDC candidates across the board.
“NDC is the only true hope of the opposition and Nigeria’s democracy,” he said. “The opposition in this country was in shambles until NDC happened on the scene. We cannot take our eyes off the ball because we have to close ranks and work together to push out this APC government, which is not only incompetent but also uncaring and evil.”
In his own reaction, Mazi Nnamdi Dickson Iroegbu, who was unsuccessful in his bid to secure the NDC House of Representatives ticket for the Aboh Mbaise and Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency in Imo State, urged all genuine NDC members to look beyond the primaries and close ranks to ensure the party produces the next president of Nigeria in 2027.
In a Facebook post following the publication of the candidates’ list by INEC, Iroegbu said: “The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) list of candidates has just been released by INEC with my name copiously missing. It behoves me, Mazi Nnamdi Dickson Iroegbu, to state that I have moved on steadfastly…
“My sincere goodwill goes to all the candidates of my party, the NDC, and I wish them the very best as they advance.
“Although my aspiration did not materialise this moment, my commitment to the people remains firm, and I will continue to work for the progress of my community.
“I urge all my supporters to continue with their support for NDC from top to bottom, standing firmly behind the party’s leadership and candidates, and ensuring unity, discipline and active participation during the election processes. Service to the people shall always be our creed.”
