The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has called for an urgent all-party summit to curb a growing wave of thuggery and political violence, warning that unchecked attacks could undermine the 2027 general elections before they begin.
Dickson said he was deeply concerned about the increasing attacks on the NDC, its candidates and its supporters.
He noted in a statement on Sunday that he and other party leaders had spoken against the trend before, stressing that violence has no place in the democratic process whatever the circumstances.
He urged the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Peace Committee led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, working with INEC and the security agencies, to convene the summit.
According to him, it would give all parties a platform to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful, fair and transparent elections.
He cautioned that the rising violence, if not urgently checked, could create a dangerous situation that complicates or entirely undermines the polls, and said political disagreements and rivalries must not be allowed to degenerate into violence that threatens democracy.
On internal party matters, Dickson said he had held discussions with party leaders over concerns recently raised by some party officers. He asked that the issues be resolved and that everyone’s interests be properly considered going forward.
He also directed the party leadership to begin preparing and releasing the names of committed party men and women across the country for assignments in the committees and directorates of the National Campaign Council. He said he had urged everyone to work with the team and had spoken to the party’s executive committee leadership to speed up the release of the lists.
Dickson added that he had asked the party leadership to make support available to the state chapters to aid their work, while efforts continue to raise more funds for the campaign.
Turning to election day preparations, he urged candidates for the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and governorship to take seriously the issues of agents, verification, identification and training.
He described these as serious matters and said he had asked the team to cooperate with the presidential campaign team on verification and to take its input, especially in areas of interest.
He also advised that, beyond party affiliations, efforts should be made to collaborate with other parties, apart from the main contenders where necessary, to boost agent presence in all units and ensure the NDC is ably represented in every polling unit nationwide.
Dickson stressed that candidates’ views on agents should be given utmost consideration since they are the ones on the ballot and on the ground to defend the party, but that they are expected to work with the party leadership and stakeholders, which is what the party is currently doing.
He said the process should be concluded quickly and decentralised for uploading so that training can begin later this month and continue through December, noting that the 2027 election is an agent-based election.
On behalf of the party leadership and candidates, Dickson thanked Nigerians for their massive show of solidarity and support, and ended with the rallying call: “NDC all the way!”
