Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has defended the party’s decision to hand Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso its presidential and vice-presidential tickets without a contest, saying the party made significant concessions to accommodate them.
Speaking while engaging party stakeholders on Thursday, Dickson said neither Obi nor Kwankwaso was asked to pay money before being admitted into the party or adopted as its flag bearers.
His remarks come amid growing criticism from some party members and aspirants over the conduct of the NDC primaries and the party’s internal processes.
Dickson said the NDC remains open to all Nigerians and has demonstrated goodwill toward its leading figures.
“We are pleased to have them. This party is a party for all Nigerians,” he said.
“They are now, by the decision that this party has taken, flag bearers. And we have no issues with any of them.”
The former Bayelsa governor argued that the party had already made extraordinary sacrifices by granting the tickets without subjecting either politician to a competitive primary process.
“If I were running, or you yourself were running, and you were given presidential nomination to decide what you want, has the party not done anything for you?” he asked.
“There was no party contest. Nothing.”
NO MONEY WAS PAID BY OBI, KWANKWASO
Dickson also dismissed suggestions that the party leadership sought financial contributions from the duo in exchange for the tickets.
“As I said last night, I, or the chairman, or nobody here, demanded or received any money from them before accepting them into the party,” he said.
“No monies were demanded or received from them before making them sole presidential candidates.”
Questioning the continued complaints from some quarters, the NDC leader said the party had gone out of its way to accommodate its new entrants.
“What else do people want?” he asked.
The comments come barely a day after Dickson urged supporters of Obi to stop disparaging the NDC leadership, insisting that nobody was doing the party a favour by joining it.
The former governor had also maintained that the NDC was not a special-purpose vehicle for any individual but an institution that must be respected by all members regardless of status.
