Senator Seriake Dickson has stated that he is more qualified to contest Nigeria’s presidency than leading opposition figures Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while noting that he personally chose not to pursue the office.
Dickson made the comments on Wednesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, where he spoke on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), its internal dynamics, and the party’s relationship with Peter Obi.
He maintained that the NDC offered its platform to Obi without any financial demands, stressing that neither Obi nor his running mate paid any fees to secure their nominations.
According to him, the party has not been given sufficient credit for facilitating Obi’s emergence as its presidential candidate.
Dickson also dismissed claims of internal crisis within the NDC, insisting that Obi remains a valued member of the party and that cooperation between both sides remains intact.
He attributed reports of division within the party to some supporters whom he accused of undermining the party while claiming to support Obi.
The former Bayelsa State governor further said that several prominent politicians had approached the NDC before Obi joined, adding that the party should be recognized for its role in building an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
Dickson said: “If we didn’t like them, if they are not people who have confidence in me or I have confidence in them, we wouldn’t offer the platform.
“And they didn’t pay one naira. They didn’t pay ‘shishi’. Okay, nobody pays ‘shishi’.
“So, if a presidential candidate didn’t pay shishi to be made sole presidential candidate, and a vice-presidential candidate didn’t pay shishi to become sole vice-presidential candidate, that same party cannot be the one saying …
“I think that I have to be given the credit. There is no one more qualified than me to run for the presidency. And for some reasons, I did not want to.
“So don’t make it look like anyone is doing me and the NDC a favour. No one is. Rather, the NDC is the one granting a platform, and that narrative is important.
“You cannot be supporting Peter Obi, if you are genuinely supportive, and at the same time discouraging me, the leader, or the platform itself. That is nonsense. If it were easy for people to form a party, if it were easy…
“Now, before Peter, I received Binani from Adamawa and several other people for five months. People should be careful. Okay, as we move on, the platform is there.
“Peter Obi is a cherished member of the party, and on our own, we have made him the sole presidential candidate. And that counts for something.
“And we are working well together.
“There’s no crisis. It is these supporters who I don’t know what they gain by disparaging the platform.”
He reiterated that the NDC remains stable and focused on building a united opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
