Dickson says political differences must not trigger violence

Obi-Kwankwaso Movement yesterday unveiled a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council comprising zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors for mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other key areas ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council, announced in a statement yesterday, has the Director General of the movement, John Ughulu, as Director General of the campaign, while the National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, was also listed among the campaign leadership.

The structure has representatives from the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with state coordinators appointed for the 36 states.

he council also includes directors responsible for grassroots mobilisation, women’s affairs, contact and engagement, special duties, procurement, information technology, legal affairs, strategy and planning, security and intelligence, and administration.

The development comes as the movement intensifies preparations to mobilise support for the joint presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 election.

In a congratulatory message to the newly appointed council members, Sani explained that their selection was a call to duty and tasked them with taking the message of its principles to communities across the country.

Continuing, she highlighted that the Obi and Kwankwaso campaign would not be built around individuals seeking personal recognition, but around what it described as a broader national vision.

The national secretary added that their immediate responsibility was to ensure that the principals’ message reached voters nationwide.

The unveiling comes days after the movement condemned the reported disruption of Obi’s convoy during his visit to Benue State and called for an impartial investigation into the incident.

MEANWHILE, the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has warned political actors against turning differences ahead of the 2027 elections into violence, intimidation, or restrictions on citizens’ democratic rights.

Dickson made the call in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving the management of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, which formally presented him with notification of his selection as the LEADERSHIP Politician of the Year 2026.

The former Bayelsa State governor said Nigeria’s democracy could only thrive when political parties were allowed to compete freely, and citizens could express their political choices without fear.

Dickson also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead efforts to reduce political tensions and ensure that security agencies provide a conducive environment for all political parties and candidates to campaign nationwide.

The LEADERSHIP delegation, led by the newspaper’s Vice Chairman, Michael Okpere, presented Dickson with the formal notification of the award at his Abuja residence.

According to the newspaper, the award recognises Dickson’s public service record, political leadership, experience across the executive and legislative arms of government and his role in the emergence of the NDC.

The award ceremony is scheduled for December 1 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.