NDC holds inaugural National Convention, Dickson declares party “here to stay”

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The National Democratic Congress (NDC) today held its Inaugural National Convention in Abuja, drawing delegates and supporters from across Nigeria in what party leaders described as a historic moment for opposition politics. Former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the NDC, Henry Seriake Dickson, delivered a keynote address that blended gratitude, defiance, and a call to action.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi — “First, they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, and then you win” — Dickson told delegates that the NDC, barely three months old, had already achieved unprecedented acceptance among Nigerians.

He thanked citizens for their trust, noting that the party was founded on ideals of service, unity, inclusion, and the protection of democratic values. “No political party in the history of our country has enjoyed this level of acceptance within such a short period of time as the NDC has received,” he declared.

Dickson traced the party’s journey back to 2017, when efforts to register the NDC stalled. Renewed applications in 2025 faced bureaucratic hurdles until a Federal High Court judgment in December upheld the party’s constitutional right to freedom of association. INEC complied, issuing the certificate of registration in February 2026. He commended both the judiciary and INEC for obeying the ruling, while urging them to safeguard Nigeria’s multi‑party democracy by protecting opposition parties such as the PDP, ADC, Labour Party, SDP, and NNPP.

The convention also marked a significant political development: the entry of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into the NDC after weeks of consultations. Dickson hailed their decision as a “unique convergence of political experience, administrative competence, national reach, and a shared hope for the future of Nigeria.”

Reflecting on his own political journey, Dickson emphasised his steadfast commitment to opposition politics despite pressures to defect. “Any political system without a credible opposition is a dictatorship, and Nigeria must never become a dictatorship—civilian or otherwise,” he warned. He described his career as defined by service, courage, consensus‑building, and sacrifice, insisting that resisting inducements to join the ruling party was necessary to entrench democracy.

Delegates braved insecurity and economic hardship to attend the convention, which Dickson said proved Nigerians were ready for a new direction. He urged members to continue mobilisation and sensitisation, stressing that differences with the ruling party must be settled at polling units, not through violence. “Nigeria must never be reduced to a one‑party state. Through the NDC, Nigerians will continue to resist state capture, resist authoritarianism, and defend multi‑party democracy,” he affirmed.

The convention is expected to affirm and elect the party’s protem leadership, paving the way for the selection of flag bearers for various offices, including the presidency.