The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has dismissed claims that the party serves as a proxy for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West Senatorial District, defended the independence and legitimacy of the newly registered party.
He noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) followed due process in registering the NDC, in line with a court order. “There’s no litigation against NDC registration.
INEC has already implemented the court order and cannot reverse it,” he said, rejecting suggestions that INEC or the APC were seeking to challenge the party in court as unfounded.
Dickson also countered claims that the NDC was created to weaken opposition parties. “I’m used to this kind of bullying tactics.
I am not someone who is swayed by propaganda and blackmail,” he said.
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Describing the NDC as an ideological platform, the senator said it was established to bring together Nigerians with shared democratic values.
“It remains open to engagement with other political groups, but it is not aligned with any existing party,” he added.
He emphasized the constitutional right of Nigerians to political association, stating, “No one can blackmail or bully me or any other Nigerian to belong to a party or form a party or take one view or the other.”
Addressing suggestions that he and his supporters should align with other opposition platforms like the African Democratic Congress or the Labour Party, Dickson insisted that Nigerians must have the freedom to make independent political choices.
“Democracy means you have the right and the freedom to be in the ADC, to be in the APC; to be in the Labour Party, and thousands of Nigerians also have the right to be in the NDC,” he said.