Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Dickson Movement for Democracy (TDM), popularly known as the Dickson Movement, has endorsed the decision of the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to regulate and reposition support groups and political movements mobilising support for the party and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group disclosed its position in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comr. Ogbidi Emmanuel, following moves by the NDC leadership to bring support groups and affiliated movements under a more structured and coordinated framework.
The Dickson Movement commended the National Leader and leadership of the NDC for what it described as a decisive initiative aimed at promoting greater coordination, discipline and unity among groups operating in support of the party.
According to the group, the proposed framework would help streamline the activities of support organisations, strengthen collaboration and ensure that their efforts are aligned with the broader objectives of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the movement also, the relationship between a political party and candidates sponsored by the party should be viewed as inseparable, arguing that genuine support for an NDC candidate should naturally extend to the party and its other candidates.
“We believe and understand that the relationship between the party and its candidates is like Siamese twins. It is not possible for any genuine support group to support a candidate and not support his party responsible for his sponsorship,” the statement said.
The group said the proposed regulation would help the party identify genuine support organisations, understand their activities and positions, and ensure that such groups operate in accordance with the broader interests of the party and its candidates.
It further argued that sustainable growth within any organisation requires order, discipline and clearly defined rules governing both internal activities and relationships with affiliated bodies.
“Orderliness is the very foundation of increase,” the movement stated, adding that the NDC leadership’s position would help prevent situations where individuals or groups could unknowingly work at cross purposes with the party.
The Dickson Movement also declared its readiness to work with the NDC to mobilise support for all the party’s candidates at the national and sub-national levels.
The group stressed that it would not engage in selective support for particular candidates, but would instead mobilise what it described as “total support” for NDC candidates across the electoral structure.
According to the statement, the movement’s position is informed by the need for a supportive legislative and sub-national political structure capable of advancing the programmes and policies of an NDC administration if elected.
It specifically identified the NDC presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while arguing that victory at the presidential level would need to be complemented by the election of like-minded representatives to the National Assembly and at the sub-national level.
The movement said such elected officials would be required to support the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes from the national level down to the grassroots.
“No genuine support group or movement will engage in selective support for NDC candidates. It must be total and definite,” the statement declared.
The Dickson Movement also called on other support groups and movements associated with the NDC to embrace the party’s coordination efforts, irrespective of their size or popularity.
It said it appreciated the contributions of existing groups and encouraged more organisations to join the mobilisation effort ahead of the 2027 elections.
The movement, however, acknowledged the diversity of Nigeria’s political and social landscape, noting that different groups may have particular appeal among people based on ethnic, religious, ideological, political or other identities.
It argued that rather than viewing such diversity as a weakness, the various support groups should use their different constituencies to broaden the reach of the NDC’s mobilisation efforts.
“No singular movement can successfully mobilise Nigerians effectively for any election cycle,” the statement said, stressing the need to navigate Nigeria’s diverse social and political interests in order to sensitise, organise and mobilise citizens around the party’s electoral objectives.
The Dickson Movement reaffirmed its commitment to working with the NDC and other affiliated groups in building a broad-based mobilisation structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
