Candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) whose names recently appeared on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list have commended the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, for his leadership during the party’s nomination process, describing his role as instrumental in resolving internal disputes and stabilising the party.
The publication of the candidates’ list by INEC has eased weeks of anxiety among many aspirants, particularly those seeking election into the Senate and House of Representatives, following delays in the release of the names.
Several candidates and former aspirants who spoke after the list was published credited Dickson with steering the party through what they described as a difficult period marked by post-primary disagreements and reconciliation efforts.
Among those who praised the former Bayelsa State governor was the NDC candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, who said Dickson deserved commendation for successfully navigating the challenges associated with the party’s primaries and candidate nomination process.
“The National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, deserves accolades for the way he managed the difficult period of the primaries, reconciliations and eventual conclusion of the nomination process. Nobody is perfect, but he acted in the interest of the party,” she said.
Nwaogu also appealed to aspirants who did not secure the party’s tickets to remain committed to the NDC and work towards its success in the 2027 general elections.
Several candidates also dismissed allegations that the party’s tickets were sold to the highest bidders, insisting that the NDC primary elections were among the most transparent conducted by major political parties.
A Canada-based aspirant who lost the bid for a House of Representatives ticket said Dickson spent months reconciling aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders rather than interfering in the conduct of the primaries.
According to him, most of the disputes originated from state-level disagreements and the harmonisation process, not from the party’s national leadership.
Similarly, an aspirant from Edo State rejected claims that money influenced the allocation of party tickets.
He said he met Dickson on several occasions alongside party leaders and aspirants but maintained that financial inducement was never discussed.
The aspirant described Dickson as a leader who had made significant personal sacrifices since the formation of the NDC, urging party members to unite behind the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and all NDC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
He added that the party represented a credible opposition platform capable of strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Also reacting to the publication of the INEC list, Mazi Nnamdi Dickson Iroegbu, who was unsuccessful in securing the NDC House of Representatives ticket for the Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency in Imo State, called on members to put the primary contest behind them and work for the party’s victory.
In a Facebook post, Iroegbu acknowledged that his name was not included in the final list but declared that he had accepted the outcome.
He congratulated all successful candidates, reaffirmed his commitment to serving his community and urged his supporters to remain loyal to the NDC by supporting the party’s leadership and candidates throughout the 2027 election campaign.
The reactions followed the publication of the NDC candidates’ list by INEC, which ended months of uncertainty surrounding the party’s nomination process and shifted attention to preparations for the 2027 general elections.
