…Says PDP remains the only party that gave Niger Delta true political inclusion
Former Governor of Bayelsa State and serving Senator, Henry Seriake Dickson, has distanced himself from the defection of Governor Douye Diri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he remains firmly committed to the PDP and Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Dickson described Diri’s defection as “sad” and “ridiculous,” warning that the growing wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling APC threatens Nigeria’s democratic pluralism.
“I remain where I have always been — in the PDP,” Dickson said. “I do not believe Nigeria should be a one-party state. As a soldier of democracy, I am used to the ups and downs of political life. I remain steadfast in the PDP, working with colleagues to resolve our challenges.”
The former governor, who led Bayelsa State between 2012 and 2020, accused some PDP leaders of abandoning the party they helped weaken instead of taking responsibility and rebuilding it.
“I hope the governors and leaders who created the mess in our party will now show leadership and take responsibility,” he said. “It is sad and makes our democracy look ridiculous.”
Dickson lamented what he called a culture of political opportunism among Nigerian politicians, contrasting it with Ghana’s more stable democratic system. “In Ghana, when President Mahama lost elections, he stayed in his party. When Akufo-Addo’s party later lost, they stayed. That is democracy. In Nigeria, politicians decamp at the slightest opportunity — it cheapens our democracy,” he stated.
Reaffirming his loyalty to the PDP, Dickson said the party remains the only one that has given the Niger Delta region genuine national inclusion. “The PDP gave my people the opportunity to produce a Vice President, an Acting President, and even a President of Nigeria. No other party has done that,” he said.
While acknowledging the party’s internal challenges, the Senator said the solution lies in reform, not defection. “If we fail to save the PDP, then we can take a collective decision — but not to join the ruling party. Democracy without opposition is dictatorship,” he warned.
Dickson revealed that Governor Diri had consulted him multiple times before defecting but said he saw “no compelling reason” for the move. “Since leaving office, I have not played godfather. I only offered advice when consulted. The governor sought my counsel several times, but I found no justification for a second-term governor to defect,” he added.
On national issues, Dickson voiced support for President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing him as a competent professional whose appointment could restore confidence in the electoral process.
“Being in opposition doesn’t mean opposing everything the government does,” Dickson said. “Where they are wrong, we must speak. But in this case, I will support Professor Amupitan’s nomination because of his qualifications and integrity.”
He clarified that Amupitan was not politically partisan, dismissing rumours linking him to the President’s legal team. “There is confusion between Professor Amupitan of the University of Jos and another, Professor Osipitan, of Lagos. I found no evidence that Amupitan worked for the President,” he explained.
Dickson, a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, said the appointment offers INEC a chance to rebuild public trust. “A Professor of Law and Senior Advocate should bring the reforms we need in INEC and our electoral system,” he said, urging Nigerians to support the new leadership.
Reaffirming his commitment to principle-driven politics, Dickson concluded, “I am not in politics for personal gain. I am here to promote values and ideals bigger than myself. That is what guides my service and decisions.”
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