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As DICKSON Threatens His Removal From NDC
There is serious political tension ongoing within the Nigeria Democratic Congress, as the 2027 general elections approach rapidly. NDC and its leaders are at loggerheads over unresolved issues that could lead to significant conflicts if utmost care is not taken. With less than 5 months to the Presidential election, the relationship between the party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Party Chairman, Seriake Dickson has been strained. In fact, tensions are escalating as the election nears. The current issue is the unresolved party logo, which has caused discord among party members and between Peter Obi and Dickson. Reports have it that, Dickson is prepared to remove unruly Obidients from the party and has warned that Obi could be expelled if this persists.
Remember, INEC is dissatisfied with the NDC logo and has cited reasons. One reason is that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially delayed registering the NDC, claiming its two-finger salute sign resembles the broom symbol of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), though the APC never lodged any official complaint.
Secondly, the Peace Mass Movement Party (PMP) later challenged the NDC in court, claiming the two-finger logo infringed on a design they had previously submitted during an uncompleted registration attempt with INEC. Investigations revealed discrepancies between the official NDC logo version uploaded on INEC platform and the alternative variations being printed on public campaign materials, fueling confusion over voter recognition. For many months that the INEC has alerted the party, the issues were not resolved and this is why many Obidients are angry, including Peter Obi, over the handling of the sensitive issue. Obi and his supporters now believe the inability of the party to react quickly and find a solution is a deliberate effort to disqualify him from the next election. One of Obi’s campaign aide, in a statement addressed to the party’s Communications Director recently, Theo Abu Agada, urged the NDC leadership to resolve the NDC logo controversy without further delay. According to her, with fewer than 5 months to the elections, the absence of clear direction on the party’s approved logo has left candidates and supporters uncertain about which emblem to use on campaign materials.
She warned that the situation could undermine the party’s cohesion, visibility and preparedness for the polls.
“You have repeatedly stated that the party’s leader (Dickson) is an experienced politician. I therefore believe he fully understands the electoral and political implications of allowing this uncertainty to persist,” she said.
Umoh called on the party to issue an official communiqué to all state chapters and relevant stakeholders, clearly identifying the logo approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and providing uniform guidelines for its use.
She stressed that the party could not afford mixed messaging at such a crucial stage of the election cycle.
“At this critical stage, the party cannot afford avoidable confusion or mixed messaging. We are working towards victory, and every decision, including clarity around the party’s identity and campaign materials, must reflect that commitment,” she said.
She also expressed concern over the continued delay in resolving the issue, saying she hoped it was not an indication that the party was unprepared or inadvertently undermining its electoral prospects.
“I sincerely hope the delay is not a sign that the party is unprepared or intentionally trying to sabotage our chances at winning. The NDC must act decisively to protect and strengthen its chances at the polls,” she added.
Peter Obi and the Obidient Movement could face reasons to leave the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primarily due to severe legal battles surrounding the party’s registration, internal friction with legacy party structures, and concerns that prolonged court-ordered deregistration crises might derail their 2027 election preparations.
Currently, the legal status of the party and its emblem remains tied up in court as the NDC challenges the nullification, leaving the logo in a state of legal limbo until a fresh, comprehensive hearing takes place.
The criticism led to a fierce online exchange between Obi’s camp and the NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada.
Seriake Dickson criticized public attacks from Obi’s support base, stating that it was counterproductive and “nonsensical” for individuals to disparage the party platform or its leadership while claiming to support Obi, emphasizing that no candidate was doing the party a favor by using its platform.
Following the public tension between the camps, Dickson reportedly met directly with Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso to iron out internal differences and stabilize the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
When Seriake Dickson spoke on the logo: “We received a letter from INEC stating that our registration was declined because our proposed logo, which is the two-finger sign, was similar to that of the APC broom. This was shocking to us and we wrote back to INEC to restate that the logos were in no way similar.”
The party’s proposed symbol, a 2-finger victory sign forming a “V”, was deemed to resemble the APC’s broom logo, particularly when printed small on ballot papers. INEC feared that uneducated, elderly, or rural voters relying on quick visual identification could mistake one symbol for the other, potentially invalidating votes or triggering post-election disputes. At a point, the NDC offered to change its logo but INEC reportedly declined to allow the change and did not register the party.
For 8 years, the NDC remained in limbo. It was neither fully registered as a political party nor completely denied recognition. It existed in a grey zone, unable to fully participate in electoral processes but not formally rejected either.
In 2025, when INEC resumed the registration of new political parties, the NDC revived its application. This time, INEC again declined to re-register it, citing the same logo similarity concern. The party repeated its willingness to change the logo, but INEC maintained its position, with party faithfuls fearing the worst as the 2027 Presidential election beckons.
Isaac Abimbade
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