The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, says the party did not receive any payment from Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso before adopting them as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Speaking during an engagement with media executives in Abuja, Dickson said the NDC leadership decided to hand the duo the party’s ticket without conducting a primary election or requesting any financial contribution.
“We are pleased to have you here. This is a party for all of us,” he said.
“They are now, by the decision that this party has taken, our flagbearers. And we have no issues with any of them.”
The former Bayelsa governor said the party made major concessions by offering Obi the presidential ticket and allowing him to select his preferred running mate.
“If I were running, or you yourself were running, and you were given a presidential nomination and the vice that you want, has the party not done anything for you?” he asked.
“Let’s be sincere to ourselves now. There’s no primary contest.”
Dickson maintained that neither he nor any other party leader sought or accepted money from Obi and Kwankwaso in return for the nominations.
“As I said last night, I, or the chairman, or nobody here, demanded or received any money from them for accepting them to the party,” he said.
“No monies were demanded or received from them before making them sole presidential candidate and running mate.”
The NDC leader questioned the criticism still being directed at the party despite what he described as its willingness to hand over its presidential ticket without an internal contest.
“What else do people want? At this point, we should be working together to plan how to kick off the campaign,” he said.
He urged party members and supporters to concentrate on preparations for the 2027 elections rather than internal disputes, stressing that the party leadership remains committed to backing its presidential ticket.