Support groups can’t set up campaign councils – Dickson

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Senator Seriake Dickson, has said political support groups must not compete with the party or establish structures that perform the functions of its official campaign machinery.

Dickson spoke on Tuesday while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the NDC.

His remarks came amid a dispute between the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, and the NDC over the creation of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council.

The OK Movement is a support group backing the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for the 2027 election.

The OK Movement had announced the council on September 17, but the NDC subsequently dissociated itself from the structure, saying it did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded.

The movement later said it did not require the NDC’s permission to carry out its organisational functions.

Speaking on the role of support groups, Dickson said they were expected to mobilise support for candidates rather than compete with the political party sponsoring them.

“You have several support groups. 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. They don’t play the role of a political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation support,” he said.

Dickson said support groups should also not turn against the parties they were established to support.

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“They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsoring. They don’t attack the political party sponsoring. They don’t do that,” he said.

The former Bayelsa State governor said the NDC had a department responsible for coordinating and registering support groups and that the party welcomed more organisations to mobilise support for its candidates.

He said it was unusual for a support group to establish a presidential campaign council, adding that those responsible for educating political supporters should intervene.

“None of them will dare say they are setting up a presidential campaign council. It’s unheard of. Nonsensical. And those who have a duty to educate and call people to order should do so,” Dickson said.

The NDC leader stressed that support groups had an important role to play in the party’s campaign, but should operate within the party’s established structure.

The development comes as the NDC moves to constitute its own Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

The party said on Tuesday that its presidential candidate, Obi, and running mate, Kwankwaso, had been given the authority to nominate key officers of the council in consultation with the party leadership.

The positions include Director-General, Deputy Director-General for the North, campaign spokesman and deputy spokesman, Head of New Media, Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director.

The NDC said the arrangement followed consultations between Obi, Kwankwaso, Dickson and other party leaders, as it prepares to inaugurate the official campaign council.