Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP–Bayelsa West) has issued a strong rebuke following the defection of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri to the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that the growing wave of defections threatens Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Speaking to journalists after plenary on Wednesday, the former Bayelsa governor reaffirmed his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing himself as a “soldier of democracy” committed to preserving political pluralism in the country.
“I am where I have always been,” Dickson stated. “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 criticised fellow PDP governors, including Diri, for abandoning the party amid internal challenges. He accused them of failing to provide leadership and allowing crises to fester before defecting. “It’s sad. Instead of fixing the problems, they let the crisis fester and now they are bailing out,” he said. “It makes Nigeria look small, ridicules our democracy and endangers multiparty politics. What we are witnessing is political class suicide.”
The senator revealed that Governor Diri had consulted him multiple times prior to his defection but said he found no compelling justification for the move. “To his credit, he consulted me, but I didn’t see any compelling reason to defect,” Dickson said.
He defended the PDP’s legacy, citing its role in elevating Bayelsa leaders to national prominence. “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 concluded with a warning that the erosion of opposition parties could undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations. “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.”
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the future of the PDP, following recent defections by Governors Douye Diri, Peter Mbah, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Umo Eno—all of whom have joined the APC in recent months.
