Former Bayelsa State governor and senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, says recent disputes within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have been resolved following a closed-door meeting with the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other key stakeholders.
In a statement issued on Democracy Day, Dickson disclosed that he received Obi, whom he described as his “brother, colleague and partner in the New Nigerian Project,” alongside other party leaders for a meeting that lasted about three hours.
According to him, the leaders reviewed developments within the party and discussed issues that had recently generated concerns among members and supporters.
“We reviewed the activities of our party and discussed a few recent issues that have been a source of concern to all sides, and we amicably resolved all the issues,” Dickson said.
The meeting comes amid growing tensions within the NDC following controversies surrounding its primary elections in several states. Some aspirants who lost party tickets have alleged irregularities in the nomination process and threatened legal action, describing the exercises as fraudulent and lacking transparency.
The party has also witnessed public disagreements involving its National Leader, Peter Obi, Dickson, and prominent Obi supporter Aisha Yesufu. The exchanges, which played out on social media and other public platforms, were linked to differing views over the conduct of the party’s affairs and the outcome of some primary elections.
Another source of controversy has been discussions around the future of the Obidient Movement, which emerged as a major grassroots support platform for Obi during the 2023 presidential election, and the Kwankwasiyya Movement associated with former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Debates over party structure, integration of support groups and reports of plans to disband or reorganise the movements have fueled concerns among supporters about the direction of the party and opposition politics ahead of future elections.
Despite the disagreements, Dickson said party leaders remained united on what he described as the larger objective of winning elections and offering Nigerians an alternative to the ruling APC.
“We have always been on the same page on the bigger picture, that is winning the elections for all candidates of our party and rescuing Nigeria from the misgovernance of the APC-led government,” he said.
The senator acknowledged that differences had emerged on some issues but said agreements had been reached on how they would be managed going forward.
He called on party members to refrain from bickering and name-calling, urging them instead to focus on strengthening the party ahead of future political contests.
“I want to use this opportunity again to call on all members of our party to stop the bickering and name-calling and focus on the bigger picture,” he said.
Dickson added that he, Obi and other leaders would continue consultations and engagements aimed at addressing concerns, strengthening unity and cohesion within the NDC, and ensuring that members remain focused on their shared political objectives.
The former governor concluded his message by wishing Nigerians a happy Democracy Day.