By Ayomide Otitoju
The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has said the party remains open to coalition talks with other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing optimism that any eventual alliance would endorse the NDC’s candidates.
Dickson made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics while responding to questions on whether the NDC would consider working with other opposition figures, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, the NDC is willing to engage in discussions with other opposition parties but stressed that the outcome of such negotiations cannot be predetermined.
“As an opposition leader, our party, the NDC, will remain open to conversations within that space,” he said.
“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 supported because we know the value of the candidates we are presenting.
“We are not claiming superiority. Once the nomination process is concluded, we will move into another phase of discussions. Whether there will be an agreement, I do not know. We will try. Where it will lead, I cannot say, but all those options remain open.”
His comments come amid sustained efforts by opposition parties to build a united front ahead of the 2027 elections. Opposition realignments have gathered momentum in recent months, with several prominent political figures seeking strategic alliances to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In 2025, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party leader Peter Obi initially joined forces under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Atiku later emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate, while Obi subsequently exited the party following internal disputes and legal challenges before securing the NDC presidential ticket.
The ADC has since been embroiled in leadership disputes and court cases, including legal challenges seeking its deregistration, developments that have complicated opposition efforts to forge a broad coalition against the APC.
Despite the political uncertainties, Dickson expressed confidence that the APC would be defeated if Nigerians were allowed to freely elect their leaders.
“As leader of the NDC, and as a Nigerian who understands the feelings and aspirations of the people, we believe that the APC government and the APC as a party—not just President Bola Tinubu—will be defeated overwhelmingly,” he said.
He called for an open democratic process, urging authorities to allow all political parties to participate freely in the electoral process.
“Allow every party that wants to contest. You can only defeat them through an electoral contest. Let us have a free and fair election,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi were the leading contenders in the 2023 presidential election, which Tinubu won with more than eight million votes, while both Atiku and Obi secured over six million votes each.
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 affect the party’s participation in future elections, insisting that all NDC nominations remain valid and expressing confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary to uphold the law.
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 internationally recognised peace sign.
He noted that the symbol has been used for decades by prominent figures, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nelson Mandela, Aminu Kano and Mahatma Gandhi.
Dickson maintained that the NDC complied with all constitutional and legal requirements during its registration, describing the court case as a distraction from more pressing national issues.
