Former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has explained his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and establish a new political platform, insisting that a vibrant opposition is essential for the survival of democracy.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday, Dickson said his political philosophy differs from that of politicians who defect to ruling parties in pursuit of personal benefits and political protection.
According to him, democracy cannot thrive without a strong opposition capable of holding those in power accountable.
“We should encourage people to be in opposition because there is no democracy without opposition,” Dickson said.
The former governor alleged that many politicians join ruling parties to gain access to appointments, contracts, and government patronage, as well as to benefit from what he described as the influence of “federal might” during elections.
“People join the ruling party to be assisted by so-called federal mights, to write results and have security support to terrorize and humiliate their people in the name of rigging elections, and so on,” he stated.
Dickson stressed that he does not subscribe to such politics, noting that he has remained committed to opposition politics despite the challenges that followed the PDP’s loss of power at the federal level in 2015.
“I am not a politician of that mode. Since 2015, when the PDP lost federal power, I was the first opposition governor who bore the brunt of that federal loss of power,” he said.
The NDC leader added that his years in opposition have strengthened his resolve, emphasizing that remaining outside the ruling party does not intimidate him.
“I have been in it for some time as an opposition politician. So, being in the opposition doesn’t scare me,” Dickson added.
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