The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has condemned the spate of defections by opposition governors and party leaders into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking with reporters at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday after plenary, Dickson described the defections as “a mockery of democracy” and reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said, “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.”
Reacting specifically to the defection of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, the former governor of the state lamented that leaders were “bailing out” instead of fixing internal crises within the PDP.
“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,” Dickson said.
The senator revealed that Diri had consulted him before making his decision but insisted he saw no compelling reason to leave the PDP.
He further stated, “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.”
Dickson stressed that preserving the PDP was crucial to Nigeria’s democratic future.
“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 warned.
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