Senator Dickson Rejects Governor Diri’s Defection, Vows Loyalty to PDP, Multiparty Democracy
Senator Seriake Dickson, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, has openly condemned the recent defection of his successor, Governor Douye Diri, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking to journalists in the Senate on Tuesday, Dickson described the move as “sad” and “ridiculous,” firmly declaring his unwavering loyalty to the PDP and his commitment to defending Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system.
Dickson, who currently represents Bayelsa West, warned that the increasing trend of opposition figures crossing to the ruling APC poses a grave danger to the nation’s democracy, risking the creation of a one-party state. He stated, “I remain where I have always been, in the PDP,” stressing that the solution to the party’s challenges lies in internal reform, not defection.
He also criticized some PDP leaders for running to the ruling party instead of taking responsibility for the internal “mess” they helped create.
The Senator lamented what he called a culture of political opportunism in Nigeria, where politicians decamp “at the slightest opportunity.” He contrasted this with the democratic tradition in Ghana, where political opponents remain steadfast in their parties after electoral losses.
Dickson underscored the significance of the PDP to the Niger Delta, highlighting it as the only platform that provided the region with meaningful national representation, including a Vice President, Acting President, and President.
He revealed that Governor Diri had consulted him multiple times before his defection, but the Senator was “not convinced” and saw “no compelling reason” for a second-term governor to abandon the party that brought him to power.
Dickson concluded that a democracy requires a strong opposition, declaring, “A democracy without opposition ceases to be democracy; it becomes dictatorship and totalitarianism.”
On a separate national issue, Senator Dickson broke ranks with the opposition to express support for President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Dickson, a member of the Senate Committee on INEC, insisted his decision was based purely on merit and professional competence.
He dismissed rumors of the nominee’s political bias, explaining that there appeared to be confusion between two academics with similar names.
He stressed that a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria should be able to introduce the necessary reforms to restore public confidence in the electoral process, urging Nigerians to give the new INEC leadership a chance to succeed.
The Senator concluded that his political principles are guided by conviction and a desire to advance ideals bigger than himself.
