ABUJA — Internal friction is beginning to show within the newly formed National Democratic Congress (NDC) as key political interests warn the “Obidient” movement against provoking the party’s foundational leadership, particularly former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.
The warnings follow growing arguments over who controls the soul of the party ahead of the next general elections.
A central point of contention is the legal reality of candidate submission under the Electoral Act. Insiders have pointed out that despite Peter Obi’s massive popularity, the supreme authority to submit or substitute a presidential candidate’s name to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) lies strictly within the party’s executive structure, heavily influenced by its core founders.
“Political parties still retain the legal right to substitute candidates within the permitted window,” a source close to the party leadership explained. “Since the party opted for an alternative adoption process rather than conventional primaries, the leadership can legally change direction if internal friction becomes toxic.”
Supporters of the party’s institutional wing have urged Obi’s followers to respect internal structures rather than attempting a hostile takeover similar to their experience with the Labour Party (LP). They noted that if the movement feels dissatisfied with the established hierarchy, the option remains for them to register a separate political entity entirely.
As the deadline for the final submission of candidates approaches, the NDC leadership is under pressure to balance the massive electoral appeal of the Obidient movement with the structural supremacy demanded by the party’s financiers and founders.
