Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says Peter Obi was present when the party approved the integration of the Obidient Movement and other support groups into its formal structure.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, Dickson dismissed reports of friction within the party, insisting that the NDC remains united and committed to building a strong political institution.
His remarks come amid concerns from some supporters of Obi over the party’s recent resolution on party supremacy and the role of support groups within the NDC.
Dickson said the resolution was adopted during a convention attended by Obi and other party leaders.
“His Excellency Peter Obi was there when this motion on party supremacy was moved by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, seconded by Victor Umeh, and it was put to vote and passed,” he said.
According to him, the resolution was aimed at ensuring that elected officials on the party’s platform implement policies agreed upon by the party rather than pursuing personal agendas.
“Every elected officer of this party must implement the programmes and policies not according to his or her whims and caprices, but programmes and policies of this party that will be analysed, discussed, debated and agreed,” he said.
Dickson added that appointments and nominations under future NDC administrations would also be carried out in consultation with party stakeholders.
“We don’t want somebody to win and run a one-man show,” he said.
SUPPORT GROUPS ARE VALUABLE
The former Bayelsa governor said support groups remain valuable to the party but cannot function as parallel political structures.
“Support groups and NGOs are very important instruments of mobilisation of the party and even of our candidates,” he said.
“But they cannot be a parallel party.”
Dickson disclosed that the NDC had already begun integrating members of the Obidient Movement into its structures across the country.
“I have already received, before now, the Obidient group, for example, all their coordinators, and we have the party chairman’s direction that all of their coordinators should be integrated into the party structures,” he said.
“That is the way to do it.”
He said the policy was not targeted at any particular group, adding that the same approach would apply to all support organisations affiliated with the party.
Rejecting suggestions of internal divisions, Dickson maintained that there was no crisis within the NDC.
“You talk about friction; there is no friction,” he said.
