The contest for leadership of Nigeria’s opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 presidential election took a new turn on Sunday as National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, openly canvassed support for Peter Obi as the most viable rallying point for opposition forces seeking to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
While affirming the NDC’s readiness to participate in coalition discussions with other opposition parties, Dickson made it clear that the party expects such negotiations to culminate in broader backing for Obi’s presidential bid.
His remarks signal an intensifying struggle for influence within the opposition camp, where multiple political platforms are weighing alliance options amid growing calls for a united challenge against the APC in 2027.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Dickson said the NDC would approach coalition talks with an open mind but insisted that the quality and popularity of its candidates place the party in a strong position during any negotiations.
“We hope that whatever discussions take place will lead to the NDC candidates being backed because we know the value of the candidates we are putting forward,” he said.
The statement is widely seen as the clearest indication yet that the NDC intends to project Obi as the preferred consensus candidate of the opposition rather than merely one among several contenders.
Political realignments within the opposition have accelerated since the collapse of the broad coalition that once united Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The alliance later fractured over internal disagreements and strategic differences, resulting in Obi emerging as the NDC’s presidential flagbearer while Atiku retained the ADC ticket.
Despite the divisions, Dickson expressed confidence that opposition parties still have a realistic path to victory if they can effectively mobilise voters and if electoral institutions guarantee a transparent process.
He argued that Nigerians are increasingly demanding political change and maintained that the APC would struggle to retain power in a genuinely free and fair election.
Beyond coalition politics, Dickson also used the opportunity to dismiss ongoing legal attempts to challenge the NDC’s registration and party symbol, describing the actions as distractions that would not alter the party’s political fortunes.
According to him, the NDC remains legally compliant and fully prepared to participate in future elections, with all its candidates expected to appear on the ballot.
As coalition talks gather momentum, Dickson’s comments underscore a broader reality within the opposition camp: the conversation is no longer only about unity, but increasingly about who should lead it.