‘No One Is More Qualified Than Me For Presidency’ – NDC National Leader, Dickson

Former governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has said he is more qualified to contest for Nigeria’s presidency than leading opposition figures, but chose not to seek the office.

Naija News reports that Dickson stated this on Wednesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme.

He spoke on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), its leadership, and the party’s relationship with Obi. Dickson said the NDC gave its platform to Obi without demanding any payment.

He added that the party and its leadership deserved credit for making Obi the sole presidential candidate.

According to him, neither Obi nor his running mate, Kwankwaso, paid any money to secure their nominations.

Dickson said, “If we didn’t like them, if they are not people who have confidence in me or I have confidence in them, we wouldn’t offer the platform.

“And they didn’t pay one naira. They didn’t pay ‘shishi’. Okay, nobody pays ‘shishi’.

“So, if a presidential candidate didn’t pay shishi to be made sole presidential candidate, and a vice-presidential candidate didn’t pay shishi to become sole vice-presidential candidate, that same party cannot be the one saying …”

The former Bayelsa State governor dismissed the narrative that the NDC was benefiting from Obi’s presence in the party. He said the party was the one offering Obi a platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

He further stated, “I think that I have to be given the credit. There is no one more qualified than me to run for the presidency. And for some reasons, I did not want to.

“So don’t make it look like anyone is doing me and the NDC a favour. No one is. Rather, the NDC is the one granting a platform, and that narrative is important.”

Dickson Faults Obi’s Supporters

Dickson also dismissed reports of a crisis within the NDC, saying Obi remained a valued member of the party.

He blamed tensions on some supporters whom he accused of disparaging the party while claiming to support Obi.

The NDC National leader said, “You cannot be supporting Peter Obi, if you are genuinely supportive, and at the same time discouraging me, the leader, or the platform itself. That is nonsense.

“If it were easy for people to form a party, if it were easy…”

Dickson said several politicians had approached the NDC before Obi joined the platform, adding that the party should be respected for its role in building an alternative political movement.

He added, “Now, before Peter, I received Binani from Adamawa and several other people for five months. People should be careful. Okay, as we move on, the platform is there.

“Peter Obi is a cherished member of the party, and on our own, we have made him the sole presidential candidate. And that counts for something.

“And we are working well together.

“There’s no crisis. It is these supporters who I don’t know what they gain by disparaging the platform.”