Senator Seriake Dickson has taken a firm stand against the defection of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat if the opposition continues to crumble.
Speaking after the Senate’s plenary on Wednesday, October 15, the former Bayelsa governor reaffirmed his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing himself as a committed “soldier of democracy” who will continue to fight for multiparty politics in the country.
“I am where I have always been, I don’t believe Nigeria should become a one-party state. As a democrat, I understand the ups and downs of the process, but I remain constant and steadfast in the PDP,” Dickson said.
He expressed disappointment with some PDP governors, including Diri, accusing them of neglecting internal issues that weakened the party before deciding to defect.
“It’s sad. Instead of fixing the problems, they let the crisis fester and now they are bailing out. It makes Nigeria look small, ridicules our democracy and endangers multiparty politics. What we are witnessing is political class suicide,” he stated.
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Dickson revealed that Governor Diri had reached out to him several times before his defection, but said he found no strong justification for the decision.
“To his credit, he consulted me, but I didn’t see any compelling reason to defect. I’m still standing where I have always stood, with the PDP, the party that gave my people the opportunity to produce a Vice President, an acting President, and a President of the Federal Republic. The APC cannot offer that,” he explained.
The senator emphasised that saving the PDP must remain the collective focus of its members, warning that the collapse of opposition would harm the nation.
“If we fail to save the PDP, then we will decide collectively on the next step, but it certainly should not be joining the APC. A democracy without opposition becomes a dictatorship,” he said.