- Safiu Kehinde
The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Sen. Seriake Dickson, has cautioned the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya Movement against competing with the political party.
Dickson gave the warning following the fallout between the party’s leadership and the support group conprising of followers of the NDC’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
NPO Reported that the party had last week disassociate itself from a presidential campaign committee setup by the OK Movement.
The NDC nullified the establishment of the committee while summoning the Director-General of the group, John Ughulu.
Reacting, the OK Movement leader had dismissed the party’s statement as he held that the movement cannot be subjected to the NDC’s directives.
Speaking on the development during unveiling of former Secretary General to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, on Tuesday in Abuja, Dickson admitted to the importance of support groups to a political party.
He however held that such groups should complement, not compete with, the political party sponsoring their candidates.
‘We have several support groups. But support groups don’t compete with the political party sponsoring a candidate. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy or space. Support groups are what they are- support groups.
‘They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroot supports, mobilisation.
‘They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsoring. They don’t attack the political party sponsoring.
‘Never in the history of politics everywhere in the world…Support groups have a role to play, yes.
‘We have thousands of support groups and many more are welcome.’ He said.
The NDC national leader described the OK Movement’s decision to establish a presidential campaign council as “unheard of” and “nonsensical”.
‘In fact, there is a department of the party responsible for coordinating, registering, and managing support groups.
‘Even if you check the ruling party that we want to defeat, they have so many support groups. Some gentle, some more active, but they are support groups.
‘None of them will dare say they are setting up a presidential campaign council. It is unheard of and nonensical. Those who have the eduacte them should call the group to order.’ He added.
