,2027: Kwankwaso meets Dickson, rallies NDC amid court setback

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has met with the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, as the opposition platform moves to steady its ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kwankwaso disclosed the meeting in a post on his verified X handle on Sunday, saying he paid a courtesy visit to Dickson at his Abuja residence.

According to him, the engagement was part of ongoing consultations to strengthen the party’s unity, resilience and strategic readiness ahead of the next general elections.

“Today, I paid a courtesy visit to the National Leader of our party, the NDC, His Excellency Seriake Dickson, at his residence in Abuja,” Kwankwaso wrote.

“The engagement forms part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen the party’s unity, resilience, and strategic readiness as we prepare for the 2027 general elections.”

The former Kano State governor said the party remained committed to democratic principles and the rule of law despite recent legal challenges.

He expressed confidence in the judicial process, insisting that no temporary setback would weaken what he described as a movement built on hope, justice, equity and the aspirations of Nigerians.

“As true democrats, we remain committed to the rule of law and have absolute confidence in the judicial process,” he said.

“No temporary setback can weaken the spirit of a movement built on hope, justice, equity, and the collective aspirations of the Nigerian people.”

Kwankwaso urged party members, supporters and Nigerians sympathetic to the NDC project to remain calm, resolute and focused.

“I urge all party members, supporters, and well-meaning Nigerians to stay calm, resolute, and focused on our shared mission. Together, we will rise above every challenge.

“Nigeria will be OK,” he added.

Dickson also confirmed the meeting in a post on his official Facebook page, saying he and Kwankwaso discussed issues of mutual interest concerning the party.

The former Bayelsa State governor said NDC leaders had resolved to resist what he described as attempts to reduce Nigeria’s democracy to a one-party system.

“We reaffirmed our resolve to stand together in the fight for multi-party democracy,” Dickson said.

He added that he briefed Kwankwaso on measures being taken by the party to challenge and correct the fallout from what he described as the anomalous ruling of the Federal High Court.

“We are on course,” he said.

The meeting came days after the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, vacated its December 10, 2025 judgment which compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the NDC as a political party.

Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment was delivered without hearing all necessary parties, making the proceedings constitutionally defective.

The ruling followed an application by the Peace Movement Party, which argued that it had a legal interest in the matter and ought to have been joined before judgment was delivered.

The NDC has rejected the ruling and vowed to challenge it through the appellate process.