2027: How NDC leaders are fighting to keep coalition together

Barely four months after its formation, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is facing what many consider its first major test of cohesion.

Like most broad political coalitions assembled from different ideological, regional, and political tendencies, the party has found itself battling complaints arising from its primaries, disagreements among stakeholders, and growing public scrutiny over its internal processes.

Yet rather than allowing the situation to degenerate into open factional warfare, the party’s leadership appears to have adopted a strategy built on dialogue, reconciliation, and public demonstrations of unity.

The past few weeks have witnessed a flurry of meetings involving the party’s top figures, National Leader Senator Seriake Dickson, presidential candidate Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, all aimed at reassuring members and supporters that the coalition remains intact.

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Perhaps the most significant of these engagements was the three-hour closed-door meeting between Dickson and Obi, which came amid heightened speculation about divisions within the party.

Following the meeting, Dickson moved quickly to calm nerves. “I just received my brother, colleague, and partner in the New Nigerian Project, His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, our presidential candidate, who, together with some distinguished leaders of our party, held a closed-door meeting which lasted about three hours,” he disclosed.

More importantly, Dickson revealed that the discussions addressed issues that had become a source of concern among party stakeholders.

“In the course of that meeting, we reviewed the activities of our party and discussed a few recent issues that have been a source of concern to all sides, and we amicably resolved all the issues,” he said.

That statement was significant not merely because it acknowledged internal tensions but because it demonstrated a willingness by the party leadership to confront disagreements directly rather than pretend they did not exist.

Political parties often struggle when leaders refuse to acknowledge grievances. The NDC appears to have chosen a different path, admitting concerns while projecting confidence in its ability to resolve them.

This approach was reinforced by Dickson’s appeal to members to place the broader objective of political change above personal disagreements.

“We have always been on the same page on the bigger picture, that is winning the elections for all candidates of our party and rescuing Nigeria from the misgovernance of the APC-led government,” he said.

His warning against internal hostilities was equally direct. “I want to use this opportunity again to call on all members of our party to stop the bickering and name-calling and focus on the bigger picture.”

The language reflects a leadership that recognizes the danger of prolonged internal disputes, especially for a young political movement attempting to establish itself as a credible national alternative.

Beyond leadership consultations, the NDC has also sought to manage perceptions in the public arena. National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, has been one of the most vocal defenders of the party’s internal processes.

According to him, much of what is being described as a crisis has been exaggerated by political opponents and sections of the media.

“The alleged crisis of confidence is being overblown in the media space,” he argued, insisting that disagreements are normal in any political organization.

He maintained that the party had already addressed the issues internally and was moving forward.

“Yes, the so-called disagreement we had is normal in any political environment or political party and we have sat down to discuss it and find a way to move forward and we are moving forward.”

For the NDC, this communication strategy serves a critical purpose. Politics is often driven as much by perception as by reality. If members begin to believe a party is imploding, that perception can become self-fulfilling.

By repeatedly emphasizing unity and progress, party leaders are attempting to prevent negative narratives from taking root. Perhaps the most concrete step taken by the party has been the establishment of a reconciliation committee.

The committee was created to engage aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders dissatisfied with the outcome of the party’s primaries. Such a move reflects an understanding that reconciliation requires more than public declarations; it requires institutional mechanisms capable of addressing complaints.

According to the Osa Director, consultations with aggrieved members are already yielding results.
“We have set up a reconciliation committee that is going to address all aggrieved aspirants and ensure that we remain under this political Noah’s ark to take Nigeria to the promised land and to begin the reconstruction of a new Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the response from affected aspirants has been encouraging. “And I can assure you that we are getting positive responses from most of the aspirants and the consultation continues.”

The reconciliation initiative aligns closely with Dickson’s own assessment of the challenges facing the party.

During an interview on Arise Television, the former Bayelsa governor acknowledged that the primaries were not perfect but argued that the circumstances surrounding the exercise should be taken into consideration.

The NDC, he noted, was forced to compress membership registration, congresses, conventions, primaries, appeals, and reconciliation into a remarkably short timeframe.

Rather than denying the existence of complaints, Dickson sought to explain their origins, attributing many of the difficulties to the direct primary system mandated by the Electoral Act.

“The APC-led majority were wrong in foisting compulsory direct primaries on political parties and the country,” he argued.

At the same time, he emphasized that the party had already begun implementing reforms, including plans to make future primaries more technology-driven.

Another challenge facing the party has been criticism surrounding the emergence of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

To address those concerns, Dickson has repeatedly defended the legitimacy of the ticket, insisting that the process was transparent and free from financial inducement.

“As I said last night, I, or the chairman, or nobody here, demanded or received any money from them for accepting them to the party,” he stated.
“No monies were demanded or received from them before making them sole presidential candidate and running mate.”

By making this clarification, the party leadership appears determined to counter suggestions that the ticket was the product of financial influence rather than strategic political consensus.

Meanwhile, Kwankwaso has also joined efforts to reinforce the image of a united leadership team.
Following a meeting with Obi in Abuja, the former Kano State governor emphasized the importance of sacrifice and tolerance within the coalition.

“Our party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), remains strongly united. As leaders, we must continue to demonstrate maturity by making the necessary sacrifices and tolerating our differences in pursuit of our shared goal,” he said.

The statement is particularly important because it acknowledges the existence of differences while emphasizing that those differences need not threaten the party’s collective mission.

Taken together, these developments reveal a party leadership pursuing a deliberate strategy for managing a crisis of confidence. Rather than relying solely on public relations, the NDC has combined high-level consultations, reconciliation efforts, institutional reforms, and consistent messaging.

Whether these efforts ultimately succeed will depend on the party’s ability to translate promises into tangible outcomes. Aggrieved aspirants will want to see fairness. Members will want greater transparency. Supporters will expect the leadership to remain united.

For now, however, the NDC’s leaders appear to understand a fundamental political reality: coalitions survive not because they avoid disagreements, but because they develop mechanisms to manage them.

The coming months will determine whether the party’s reconciliation efforts can transform internal tensions into a demonstration of political maturity. If successful, the NDC may emerge from its first major challenge stronger, more cohesive, and better prepared for the battles ahead.