National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has said the party remains open to coalition discussions with other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing hope that any eventual alliance would rally behind the NDC’s candidates.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Dickson said the party was prepared to engage with other opposition platforms, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), but noted that it was too early to predict the outcome of such talks.
“As an opposition leader, we will be open. Our party, the NDC, will be open to conversations within that space.
“But it is not for me or anyone to pre-empt those discussions. We hope that whatever discussions take place will lead to the NDC candidates being backed because we know the value of the candidates we are putting forward.
“We are not claiming superiority. After the nomination process has ended, we will move into another phase of discussions. Whether there will be an agreement, I don’t know. We will try. Where it will lead, I don’t know, but all those are options that remain open,” he said.
His remarks come amid renewed efforts by opposition parties to forge stronger alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
In 2025, several prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, initially aligned under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
While Atiku later emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate, Obi exited the party following internal disputes and legal challenges before securing the NDC’s presidential ticket.
The ADC has since faced a series of legal and organisational challenges, including court cases over its leadership and attempts to deregister the party, developments that have complicated efforts to build a united opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite these setbacks, Dickson expressed confidence that the APC could be defeated if Nigerians are allowed to freely choose their leaders.
“As leader of the NDC, and as a Nigerian who knows the feelings and yearnings of Nigerians, and who also knows that their aspirations have not been met, we believe that the APC government, the APC as a party, not just the President (Tinubu), will be defeated massively,” he said.
He added, “Allow every party that wants to contest. You can only defeat them in an electoral contest. So, let us have a free and fair election.”
Dickson also dismissed the lawsuit seeking the deregistration of the NDC, describing it as frivolous and politically motivated.
He maintained that the legal action would not prevent the party from participating in future elections, insisting that all NDC nominations remain valid while expressing confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary.
According to him, all NDC candidates “will appear on the ballot.”
The former Bayelsa State governor further rejected claims challenging the party’s logo, arguing that no individual or organisation could claim exclusive ownership of the peace sign, noting that it has been used globally for decades by leaders such as Obafemi Awolowo, Nelson Mandela, Aminu Kano and Mahatma Gandhi.
He maintained that the NDC complied with all constitutional and legal requirements during its registration and described the court case as an unnecessary distraction from more pressing national issues.
