National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has explained that he rejected the option of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) because he did not want Nigeria to become a one-party state.
Dickson, a former Bayelsa State governor, made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday when the management of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, led by its Vice Chairman, Mike Okpere, presented him with the notification of the newspaper’s 2026 Politician of the Year award.
According to Dickson, the decision followed what he described as the decline of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Rather than defect to the ruling APC, he said he chose to help establish the NDC as an alternative political platform and contribute to sustaining multiparty democracy.
“I did not believe Nigeria should become a one-party state,” Dickson said.
He said the NDC was established at a time when there were limited expectations that a new political platform could develop into a significant force.
However, Dickson said the party had since expanded into what he described as a major opposition platform.
“Months down the line, we have built a formidable party and a major opposition platform in Nigeria,” he said.
The NDC leader expressed appreciation to Nigerians, as well as leaders, members and supporters of the party, for their confidence in the political project.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the development of the NDC.
Dickson urged NDC members to put behind them disagreements arising from the party’s nomination process and focus on the 2027 general elections.
He called on members to mobilise support for the party’s candidates and pursue political competition through democratic means.
The former governor also appealed to President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to provide a peaceful environment for political parties and candidates to campaign freely ahead of the 2027 elections.
He further urged political actors to respect the judiciary and resolve political disputes through democratic processes.
Dickson dedicated the LEADERSHIP award to NDC members and Nigerians who, according to him, had supported the party’s efforts to strengthen multiparty democracy.
