The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has signalled its willingness to explore a coalition with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Seriake Dickson, the party's national leader and a senator representing Bayelsa West District, made this known during an appearance on Channels TV's Sunday Politics programme on Sunday night.
Open to coalition discussions
Responding to a question from programme anchor Seun Okinbaloye about a possible alliance with ADC figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC's 2027 presidential candidate, Dickson said the NDC would be open to conversations. He stated, "As an opposition leader, we will be open to coalition discussions. Our party, the NDC, will be open to conversations within that space."
Dickson emphasised that such discussions would occur after the nomination processes have concluded. He added, "After the nomination processes have ended, we'll get to another phase of discussion (for coalition). Whether we'll agree, I don't know. I will try. Where it will lead to, I don't know. But those are options that are open."
Coalition must not alter NDC candidates
The former Bayelsa governor stressed that any coalition must not lead to a change of the NDC's already elected candidates. He said, "We hope that whatever discussions take place will lead to the NDC candidates being backed because we know the value of the candidates we are putting forward. We are not claiming superiority."
NDC will defeat APC and Tinubu massively
Dickson dismissed suggestions that the NDC would be unable to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. He argued that in a free and fair electoral contest, the APC would be defeated. "As leader of the NDC, and as a Nigerian who knows the feelings and yearnings of Nigerians, and who also knows that their aspirations have not been met, we believe that the APC as a party, not just the President (Tinubu), will be defeated massively (in 2027)," he said.
The NDC leader urged the APC-led federal government to allow all opposition parties to participate in the 2027 elections. "Allow every party that wants to contest. You can only defeat them in an electoral contest. So, let us have a free and fair election," he stated.
Court ruling on NDC registration
Last Friday, the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, set aside its earlier judgement directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party. Dickson described the ruling as "frivolous and a distraction," arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to sit on appeal over its own earlier judgements. He said, "Basically, we disagree as a party about the legal basis and the propriety of the ruling. Once a high court has given a judgement on a matter, the court shouldn't have any business with anyone who is complaining."
Dickson maintained that the NDC has not been deregistered. "The NDC has not been deregistered. The NDC has validly nominated candidates for all elective offices in primaries monitored nationwide by INEC," he said. He noted that the inability to submit candidates to INEC is an administrative procedure and does not affect the validity of the party's primaries and nominations. "I myself am also a senatorial candidate of the party. All nominations have been validly carried out, monitored by INEC, in accordance with the time frame given by INEC. The submission to INEC is an administrative procedure. So the NDC is still a party. The court itself did not deregister it. And no step has been taken whatsoever to that effect," he added.
