The [Nigeria Democratic Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Democratic_Conference) on Monday rejected circulating rumours that its National Leader, [Seriake Dickson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seriake_Dickson), was planning to sabotage the party’s 2027 presidential ticket of [Peter Obi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Obi) and running‑mate [Rabiu Kwankwaso](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabiu_Musa_Kwankwaso). The party’s national spokesperson, Osa Director, labelled the story as “malicious lies”.
**What are the accusations?**
Allegations on social media suggested that Senator Dickson might be working covertly for the ruling [All Progressives Congress](https://apc.ng) to derail the NDC’s campaign ahead of the 2027 general election. Critics claimed he was a front for the APC and that he had secret arrangements to betray the party’s presidential candidate.
**How did the NDC respond?**
Director dismissed the claims, stating that Dickson has no intention of joining or assisting the APC. “Our National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, is not a front for the ruling APC or anyone else,” he asserted, adding that there is “no secret or open deal whatsoever with the ruinous and diabolical APC regime.”
He explained that the party could have ignored the “beer‑parlour talk and murmurs” spreading online, but chose to refute them to stop the public from believing falsehoods. “Anyone familiar with Senator Dickson’s public‑service record will not link him to any under‑the‑table scheme to sabotage his own party, its presidential candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso,” Director said.
**Why is the claim considered harmful?**
Director argued that, as a sitting senator, Dickson could have taken “the easy way out” by defecting to the APC. Instead, he “chose the hard, honourable path of building a party with like‑minds, a party that will liberate Nigeria from the vice‑grip of the buccaneers currently in power.”
He highlighted Dickson’s “consistent, courageous and principled” performance in the Senate for over seven years as evidence of his strong character and solidarity with suffering Nigerians. Consequently, Director called the allegations “wicked, vexatious and mendacious,” insisting they stem from political opponents jealous of the NDC’s growing popularity across the country.
**What is Senator Dickson’s political background?**
Dickson began his career in the now‑defunct Alliance for Democracy, serving as AD chairman in Bayelsa State (1998‑2000) and later as the party’s national legal adviser (2000). He joined the Peoples Democratic Party in 2005, becoming Bayelsa State’s commissioner for justice and attorney‑general (2006‑2007) under Governor Goodluck Jonathan. He was elected to the House of Representatives for Sagbama/Ekeremor (2007‑2012), served as Bayelsa governor (2012‑2020), and won a Senate seat for Bayelsa West in 2020, securing re‑election in 2023. In March 2024 he left the PDP and founded the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections.