Why Party Discipline and Structure Will Define the NDC
Can an organic social movement capture power without the hard, unglamorous work of institutional party building?
In an illuminating appearance on Atlanta Discuss Channel’s State of the Nation with Ade Balogun, diplomat and Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign manager, Oseloka Henry Obaze, addressed head-on the internal dynamics shaping the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Responding to questions regarding why several prominent grassroots figures and movement comrades did not secure automatic NDC tickets across various states, Obaze invoked a timeless proverb: when an elderly woman carrying a basket trips once, it is happenstance; when she trips a second time, the children will count the contents of her basket.
The lesson from the 2023 Labour Party experience was clear: enthusiasm without disciplined party structures leads to institutional collapse.
Watch the Video
Some people think being Obidient or being loyal to Mr Peter Obi guarantees them a ticket. Mr. Oseloka Obaze, Director of Logistics and Operations of the NDC’s National Campaign Directorate has explained Why some Obidients failed to secure Tickets in the NDC. https://t.co/QZ23oRG7Wb
— Dejii™ (@_Dejii) October 27, 2026Watch former presidential campaign manager Oseloka Henry Obaze explain the vital difference between an organic social movement and institutional party discipline inside the NDC.
You no fit enter farm after crops don grow, come demand say na you go carry all the harvest.
As Obaze candidly explained, building an enduring political alternative to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) requires understanding three fundamental realities of partisan politics:
- Movement Support vs. Party Membership: An organic wave of supporters is vital for electoral momentum, but running a government requires registered party members who understand constitutional processes, party bylaws, and grassroots organizing.
- Honoring Foundational Builders: Long before major political alignments materialized, foundational members poured personal resources, legal sweat, and organizational legwork into securing the NDC’s INEC registration and building ward-level executive committees. Entitlement cannot displace those who laid the foundation stones.
- Uncompromising Party Discipline: Whether coming from the Obidient movement, Kwankwasiyya, or legacy platforms, every member must respect party hierarchy—from ward chairmen to national leadership—to avoid the courtroom chaos and factional infighting that crippled past opposition efforts.
Under the steady leadership of National Campaign Council Chairman Senator Henry Seriake Dickson alongside Peter Obi and Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NDC is proving that it is not merely a protest vehicle, but a disciplined, fortified institution built to withstand the political storms of 2027.
What Do You Think?
Did the lack of institutional party discipline hurt the opposition in 2023, and is the NDC right to prioritize structural loyalty and foundational members ahead of 2027?
Share your thoughts, observations, and perspectives in the comments below!
