The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson has explained why he refused to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he was unwilling to support a political arrangement that could turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
Dickson said he instead chose to help establish a new political platform after the crisis and decline within his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former Bayelsa State governor spoke in Abuja on Thursday when the management of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, led by its Vice Chairman, Mike Okpere, visited him to present the official notification of his selection as the newspaper’s Politician of the Year 2026.
The newspaperhad earlier announced Dickson as the recipient of the honour, citing his political activities and role in the emergence of the NDC as a new opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Receiving the delegation, Dickson expressed appreciation to the management and board of the newspaper.
He said the recognition came as a surprise because neither he nor members of his political team were aware of the nomination before the announcement.
The NDC leader said he considered the honour bigger than himself, adding that it should also be seen as recognition of the party’s leaders, members, supporters and Nigerians who had supported its emergence.
Dickson then reflected on the political developments that led to the formation of the NDC.
According to him, the decision to create another political platform was taken at a difficult period when the possibility of building a strong opposition party appeared uncertain.
He said the situation within the PDP influenced his decision to seek another political direction rather than move into the APC.
“I did not believe Nigeria should become a one-party state,” he said.
Dickson said his decision was based on the need to preserve political competition and provide Nigerians with another platform through which they could participate in the democratic process.
Rather than joining an existing party, he said he and his political associates chose to build a new organisation that could compete with the ruling party.
He added that the NDC had made considerable progress since its emergence.
“Months down the line, we have built a formidable party and a major opposition platform in Nigeria,” he said.
Dickson also acknowledged the contributions of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the NDC project.
Obi is the party’s presidential candidate, while Kwankwaso is its vice-presidential candidate.
Both politicians formally joined the NDC earlier in 2026 as the party moved to consolidate its position ahead of the election.
The NDC leadership has also been working on its candidates for the 2027 elections.
In August, Kwankwaso coordinated the submission of NDC candidates across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The exercise involved the party’s leadership and candidates seeking various elective positions.
The party has also featured in the final list of candidates released for the 2027 senatorial elections. Dickson himself is listed as the NDC candidate for Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
Against that background, Dickson used Thursday’s engagement to call for unity within the NDC.
He urged party members to put disagreements arising from the nomination process behind them and concentrate on building the party ahead of the elections.
The NDC leader said members should work together to mobilise support for candidates across the various constituencies.
He also warned against allowing internal disagreements to distract the party from its broader political objective.
According to Dickson, the opposition should focus on presenting an alternative to Nigerians through democratic means instead of allowing internal disputes to weaken its structure.
He called for restraint among politicians and urged parties to avoid what he described as destructive propaganda as the 2027 election approaches.
Dickson also turned his attention to the wider political environment.
He called on President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies to ensure that political parties and their candidates are allowed to operate freely during the election period.
The former governor said political parties should be able to campaign across the country without intimidation, while citizens should be allowed to make their choices without fear.
He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders in the electoral process to work towards elections that would be free, fair and credible.
Dickson said elections should strengthen Nigeria’s unity and democratic institutions rather than create conditions capable of generating political tension.
He further appealed to politicians to respect the judiciary when disputes arise.
According to him, not every political disagreement should automatically become a prolonged legal battle.
He maintained that political differences should ultimately be resolved through the electoral process and the ballot box.