Defections: Diri, others running from mess they created — Dickson

…backs Tinubu’s nominee, Amupitan, as INEC chairman

Seriake Dickson, former Bayelsa State governor and senator representing Bayelsa West, has criticised the defection of Governor Douye Diri and other politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of “running away from the mess they created.”

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, after the announcement of the defection of Douye Diri, the Bayelsa State governor, Dickson described the wave of defections as “unfortunate and politically self-serving,” arguing that Nigeria’s democracy thrives on the existence of multiple parties, not a one-party system.

“I am where I have been. I am where I am. I don’t believe Nigeria should be a one-party state,” Dickson said. “As a soldier of democracy, I’m used to the ups and downs of political life. I remain steadfast in the PDP, working with colleagues to solve the problems within the party.”

The former governor revealed that Diri had consulted him “several times” before leaving the PDP but said he was never convinced of the need to defect, especially as a second-term governor.

“To his credit, he consulted me several times,” Dickson said. “But I was not convinced because I saw no compelling reason for a second-term governor to defect. Whatever they are pursuing or whatever is pursuing them, it belittles our democracy and endangers our multiparty system.”

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He blamed the crisis in the PDP on the failure of its leadership to provide direction and resolve internal conflicts.

“The governors and members of the working committee who created this mess are now bailing out instead of fixing the problem. It’s very sad. It makes Nigeria look small and makes our democracy look ridiculous,” he said.

Citing Ghana as an example of political stability, Dickson said, “When President Mahama lost elections, he stayed in his party. When Akufo-Addo’s party later lost, they stayed. That’s democracy. In Nigeria, politicians decamp at the slightest opportunity. It’s political class suicide.”

He reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, noting that the party gave the Niger Delta people and the Ijaw nation national recognition.

“I remain standing in 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 of Nigeria. This other party cannot do that,” he said.

Dickson, however, added that being in opposition does not mean opposing every action of the government.

He declared his full support for President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Being in opposition does not mean we must fight everything coming from the government,” he stated. “In this instance, I will be voting to support the nomination of Professor Amupitan as Chairman of INEC.”

The senator explained that his decision followed due consultation and verification of claims linking Amupitan to partisan politics.

“I have made inquiries and spoken to senior lawyers across the country.

“There is confusion between Professor Amupitan of the University of Jos and another professor from Lagos. There is no evidence that Professor Amupitan was part of the President’s legal team,” Dickson clarified.

He commended Tinubu’s choice of nominee, noting that for the first time, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Professor of Law has been nominated for the position.

“It’s exciting. A person of his caliber, being both a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate, should understand that elections are not about cooking up figures and telling people to go to court,” Dickson said.

“He should know there is the judgment of men, of God, and of posterity.”

He pledged to work with his colleagues on the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters to ensure Amupitan’s confirmation and to push for further electoral reforms.

“As a member of the Electoral Committee and of the Senate, I will work to ensure that the reforms we are championing see the light of day, and that Professor Amupitan understands his place in history,” he said.

Dickson concluded by stressing that democracy without opposition is no democracy at all.

“If we don’t succeed in saving the PDP, we’ll take a collective decision, but not to join the ruling party.

“There must be opposition. A democracy without opposition ceases to be a democracy; it becomes a dictatorship,” he said.