ABUJA — The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has called on Nigerian youths to mobilise nationwide for the party’s candidates in the 2027 general elections, declaring that the opposition is targeting victory in the presidential election and a majority in the National Assembly.
Dickson made the call on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the National Coordinator of The Dickson Movement for Democracy, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi, and members of the movement at his residence, where he was decorated as the group’s Grand Patron.
The former Bayelsa State governor urged the movement and other pro-democracy groups to mobilise voters, defend their votes, and promote issue-based campaigns, insisting that the party would not encourage violence or abusive rhetoric.
He said the NDC was seeking to win the presidency on the first ballot and secure a comfortable majority in the National Assembly to implement its reform and transformation agenda.
Dickson also urged young Nigerians to resist intimidation and inducement, arguing that the 2027 elections would provide an opportunity to assess the performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and demand a change in leadership.
“The presidential election is very important to us. All elections are important. We want to win the presidency on the first ballot. We also want to win a majority of seats in the National Assembly, where our president and vice president can run the government of reform and transformation,” he said.
He called on the movement to support all NDC candidates, from the presidential ticket to legislative and other elective positions, stressing that the party’s ambition extends beyond the presidency.
According to him, the agenda focuses on restoring national security, rebuilding education and healthcare, reorganising the economy, stimulating production, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthening agriculture and manufacturing, and promoting national unity and inclusion.
Dickson said Nigeria had suffered significant setbacks under the APC-led government since 2015 and required a new direction capable of addressing insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and economic hardship.
“The ticket of the NDC is a ticket of restoration of our country,” he declared, urging young Nigerians to embrace the reform agenda and communicate its policies to voters.
On the role of support groups, he described grassroots mobilisation as essential to the party’s strategy and encouraged the movement to work with state structures, campaign coordinators, and other officials.
He said the NDC welcomed support groups as a critical part of its mobilisation network.
Dickson, however, cautioned against violence and personal attacks, urging members to focus on explaining the party’s programmes and protecting electoral integrity.
“We are not for violence. We are not for abuses. We want the ruling party to justify their re-election claim because, as I said, a re-election is a referendum on a sitting government,” he said.
He called for a credible process anchored on one person, one vote, and urged Nigerians to reject practices that undermine voters’ freedom of choice.
The former governor also criticised what he described as the use of poverty to influence voters, saying economic hardship should not be exploited to compel support for any party.
Movement Cites Leadership Deficit
Earlier, Ogbidi said the movement identified with Dickson after examining Nigeria’s political environment and concluding that the country needed a new generation of leaders committed to accountability, transparency, prudence, and selfless service.
He said the organisation emerged from concerns about a leadership deficit and the need to groom young Nigerians capable of defending constitutional democracy and sustaining a viable multiparty system.
According to him, the movement undertook a rigorous assessment of potential mentors before settling on Dickson, whose career, he said, demonstrated the capacity to build and sustain opposition movements.
Ogbidi said the emergence of the NDC, founded by Dickson, provided an alternative for Nigerians concerned about a drift towards a one-party system.
He commended the NDC National Leader for creating an alternative platform at a time when many politicians were gravitating towards the ruling party.
“We took a microscopic view into the political space of Nigeria and asked ourselves who was capable of being a role model to us, mentoring us and guiding us towards building a Nigeria that truly serves Nigerians,” Ogbidi said.
He added that the decision to adopt Dickson as Grand Patron was not merely an endorsement but part of a long-term effort to develop political ideologues and responsible leaders.
He explained that although the 2027 elections were an immediate priority, the movement’s broader objective was to build a sustainable platform for leadership development beyond the polls.
The National Coordinator disclosed that membership registration was approaching 10,000 nationwide within weeks of formation.
He said the movement had embarked on initiatives to promote multiparty democracy, protect constitutional governance, and mobilise Nigerians to participate actively.
Ogbidi pledged to mobilise support for all NDC candidates and ensure votes cast for the party were protected.
“Our objective is to mobilise horizontally and vertically across this country to support all candidates of the NDC and ensure that not a single vote belonging to the party is missing,” he said.
He appealed to Dickson to accept the invitation to serve as Grand Patron and provide mentorship.
Dickson Welcomes Initiative
Responding, Dickson thanked Ogbidi and the movement’s leadership for the recognition, saying their initiative demonstrated the willingness of young Nigerians from different parts of the country to organise and contribute to democratic development despite economic challenges.
He said he was previously unaware of the group’s activities but appreciated its decision to identify with his ideals and the NDC.
The NDC leader disclosed that other groups had emerged around similar objectives and expressed hope they could work together to strengthen mobilisation.
He urged the movement to expand its membership and open its platform to more Nigerians interested in democratic reform.
Dickson commended members for organising themselves and travelling to Abuja without first seeking financial assistance, describing it as a demonstration of commitment.
He encouraged other young Nigerians to establish similar platforms in support of those working towards a new Nigeria, noting that the party’s proposed reforms cover virtually every major sector, including security, education, healthcare, economic production and national cohesion.
The visit ended with Dickson urging members to take the party’s message to communities, work with established structures, and encourage peaceful participation in the 2027 elections.