The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has said the party remains open to discussions with other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, while expressing hope that any eventual coalition would rally behind the NDC’s candidates.

Dickson made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics when asked whether the NDC would consider aligning with other opposition figures, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“As an opposition leader, we will be open. Our party, the NDC, will be open to conversations within that space.

“But it is not for me or anyone to pre-empt those discussions. 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. After the nomination process has ended, we will move into another phase of discussions. Whether there will be an agreement, I don’t know. We will try. Where it will lead, I don’t know, but all those are options that remain open,” he said.

Coalition Momentum

The comments come amid continuing efforts by opposition parties to strengthen alliances ahead of the 2027 elections. The opposition momentum has been building in the last few months. In 2025, prominent opposition bigwigs, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (formerly of the PDP) and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, joined forces under the platform of the ADC.

While Atiku emerged as the ADC’s presidential flag bearer, former Anambra State Governor Obi had earlier left the ADC following internal disputes and legal challenges to become the NDC’s presidential candidate.

The ADC has faced several legal and organisational setbacks, including court cases challenging its leadership structure and attempts to deregister the party. Those disputes have fuelled uncertainty within the opposition and complicated efforts to build a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ruling Party Defeat?

Tinubu received the symbolic APC flag from the National Chairman of the party, Nentawe Yilwatda, after emerging as the presidential candidate of the party on Sunday, May 24, 2025.

Despite those developments, Dickson expressed confidence that the APC would be defeated if Nigerians were allowed to choose their leaders freely.

“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 government, the APC as a party, not just the President (Tinubu), will be defeated massively,” he said.

He added, “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.”

President Tinubu, Atiku and Obi were also the main contenders in the 2023 presidential election, which Tinubu won with more than eight million votes, while Obi and Atiku each received over six million votes.

Dickson also dismissed the lawsuit seeking the NDC’s deregistration, describing it as “frivolous” and politically motivated.

He insisted that the legal action would not affect the party’s participation in future elections, maintaining that all NDC nominations remain valid and expressing confidence in both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary.

According to him, all NDC candidates “will appear on the ballot.”

The former Bayelsa State governor also rejected claims challenging the party’s logo, arguing that no individual or organisation could claim exclusive ownership of the peace sign, which has been used internationally for decades, by political leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Nelson Mandela, Aminu Kano and Mahatma Gandhi.

He maintained that the NDC complied with all constitutional and legal requirements during its registration and described the court case as a distraction from more pressing national issues. (Channels News)

•PHOTO:Obi received the party’s flag after he emerged as the presidential candidate in Abuja on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

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