Former Bayelsa State Governor and serving Senator, Seriake Dickson, has taken a swipe at some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of abandoning the very mess they created within the party.
Dickson, who currently represents Bayelsa West in the Senate, was reacting to the recent defection of his successor, Governor Douye Diri, alongside several political leaders in Bayelsa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking with journalists after Wednesday’s plenary, Dickson said he found the wave of defections “sad and disappointing,” especially coming from those who had benefited the most from the PDP’s platform.
“I am where I have always been,” he said. “I don’t believe Nigeria should be a one-party state. As a soldier of democracy, I understand the ups and downs that come with political life, but I remain steadfast in the PDP, working with others to resolve the problems within.”
The former governor did not mince words when pointing fingers at those he believed had plunged the PDP into its current troubles.
“I hope that the governors and leadership who created this mess in our party, those who instead of showing leadership worsened the situation, will reflect.
“They are the ones now bailing out after creating the problems they refused to solve. It’s very sad. It makes our democracy look ridiculous,” he said.
According to him, defections by top PDP figures to the ruling APC weaken Nigeria’s multi-party system and send the wrong message about political accountability.
“We don’t know what they are pursuing or what is pursuing them,” he added. “But whatever it is, it belittles our democracy and endangers the idea of a plural Nigeria. Democracy thrives on diversity of choices, not a single political voice.”
Reflecting on his time as governor, Dickson said he had deliberately avoided the temptation of playing godfather politics after leaving office.
“Since I handed over, I’ve never imposed myself. I made no demands or conditions, only offered advice when consulted.
“And to Governor Diri’s credit, he did consult me several times,” he noted. “But I was not convinced there was any compelling reason for a second-term governor to defect.”
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, describing it as the platform that gave the Niger Delta and Ijaw people a true sense of inclusion in Nigeria’s leadership.
“I’m standing with the PDP, the same party that allowed our people to rise to positions of vice president, acting president, and even president,” Dickson said.
“If, however, the PDP fails to redeem itself, we’ll make a collective decision. But that decision will not be to join the ruling party, because democracy must have an opposition.”
In a separate comment, the senator also backed President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I believe the president has made a good choice. Professor Amupitan is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the first to be nominated to lead INEC. He understands the weight of history on his shoulders.”
Dickson pledged his support for the confirmation of the nominee and promised to work with his colleagues in the Senate to ensure ongoing electoral reforms are realized.
“I will cast my vote for him. I will support the nomination fully. We must ensure that electoral reforms we’ve been advocating for finally see the light of day,” he said.