The second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Abuja yesterday took the tone of a high-stakes political turning point, as National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson delivered a forceful and emotionally charged address that blended praise, warning and strategic direction for the party’s future.

This was as the presidential candidate, Peter Obi, delivered a sobering but energised message to party leaders, calling for sacrifice, humility and a radical shift towards grassroots politics as the party positions itself for the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, a senatorial aspirant for Enugu East on the party’s platform, Mr Okabonye Chukwuani, said Nigerians would judge the party by the outcome of its ongoing review of issues arising from its primary election process.

However, activist and Obi’s political ally, Aisha Yesufu, called for a united opposition front following her withdrawal from the senatorial race for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Dickson, addressing top party officials, legislators, governors-in-waiting, and Obi, declared that the NDC had moved beyond its fragile beginnings and was now firmly on course to becoming a dominant national political force.

He described the party’s journey as one marked by doubt, resistance and political hostility, but insisted that its survival and rapid expansion proved that it had already overcome its earliest existential tests.

“We were written off before we even started,” he said. “But today, we are not just surviving; we are building a movement that is becoming national in character and unstoppable in spirit.”

The former governor of Bayelsa State praised party members for “extraordinary resilience”, noting that despite being newly formed, the NDC had succeeded in establishing structures across all states of the federation and the FCT.

According to him, the party has fielded candidates in governorship races, National Assembly contests, and House of Assembly elections nationwide, a development he said reflected both organisational discipline and growing public acceptance.

Dickson, however, cautioned against complacency, warning that internal discipline must be maintained if the party is to sustain its momentum.

Obi, addressing a hall filled with national leaders, senators, former lawmakers and state chairmen, acknowledged early disruptions to the meeting and apologised for scheduling constraints that saw him attend another engagement in Lagos before joining the NEC session.

Despite the informal tone of his opening remarks, Obi quickly shifted into what many described as a hard-hitting reflection on the party’s pace, structure and expectations, warning that the NDC must avoid the mistakes of established political parties that remain disconnected from citizens.

He described the NDC as a “young but fast-moving political formation” that had, within a short span, gone through conventions, primaries and internal restructuring processes that typically take older parties years to complete.

“This party is barely months old, yet we have moved through conventions and primaries in a way that even long-established parties struggle with,” he said. “That tells us one thing: we must be prepared for sacrifice.”

The former governor of Anambra State used the opportunity to issue a broader critique of elite-driven politics in Nigeria, warning that governance disconnected from citizens would continue to produce national instability.

On his part, Chukwuani urged the leadership of the party to uphold fairness, justice and internal democracy in resolving disputes stemming from the primaries, stressing that the decisions taken would shape public perception of the party’s commitment to democratic principles.

According to him, the credibility of NDC would not be measured by the absence of disagreements but by its willingness to confront difficult issues and ensure that justice prevails.

The aspirant maintained that no individual should benefit from actions that undermine internal democracy, adding that aspirants who complied with the party’s directives and guidelines should not be disadvantaged in the review process.

He noted that party members, supporters and stakeholders across the country were closely observing developments within the NDC and would assess whether the party’s professed commitment to transparency, accountability and fairness is reflected in its actions.

Yesufu’s withdrawal brings an end to her brief bid for the 2027 senatorial election, which began after she declared interest in the FCT seat on May 6, 2026, following her defection from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the NDC.

Her decision comes amid indications of internal realignments within the party over the FCT senatorial ticket, with reports suggesting that the NDC might have favoured another aspirant.

Despite stepping down from the race, Yesufu has continued her grassroots engagements across the FCT’s six area councils of Kwali, Abaji, Gwagwalada, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari and Kuje.

During the visits, she met party officials, supporters, stakeholders and residents in what she described as an appreciation tour to thank them for their support during her political engagement.

Even as some supporters expressed concern over the party’s handling of the senatorial nomination process, despite what they claimed was strong grassroots backing for her candidacy, they maintained that the development would not dampen their resolve to continue mobilising for political reform and improved governance. (The Guardian)

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