Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, has hinted at the possible defection of Governor Douye Diri’s from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Diri on Wednesday formally announced the decision to resign from the PDP at the Executive Council chamber of the Bayelsa State Government House.
He did not disclose the political party he intends to join, though reports suggest a move to the ruling APC is imminent.
Reacting, after plenary on Wednesday, Dickson hinted at Diri’s possible defection to the APC, with the senator
representing Bayelsa West at the National Assembly saying that he, however, remains firmly in the PDP.
Speaking further, he described himself as a soldier of democracy, who is committed to strengthening multiparty politics in the country.
“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,” Dickson said.
He also criticised some governors in the PDP, including Governor Diri, accusing them of failing to provide leadership within the party and contributing to its internal crisis before defecting.
“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,” he said, revealing that Governor Diri had consulted him several times before defecting but said he was not convinced by the reasons he gave.
“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 said.
“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.”
