Former Bayelsa State governor Seriake Dickson says he declined to join the All Progressives Congress because he did not want Nigeria to move towards a one-party political system.
Dickson, who is now a national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, made the statement on Thursday.
He spoke during a visit by the management of Leadership Newspaper.
From PDP Crisis to NDC
Dickson said the condition of the Peoples Democratic Party played a major role in his decision to create a new political platform.
He described the period as challenging for opposition politics in Nigeria.
According to him, the crisis within the PDP raised concerns about whether the party could continue to provide an effective alternative to the ruling party.
Dickson said he and his associates therefore chose to build a new organisation instead of joining the APC.
‘Nigeria Should Not Become One-Party State’
Explaining his position, Dickson said:
“I did not believe Nigeria should become a one-party state.”
He said political competition remains important to the democratic process.
According to him, Nigerians should be able to choose from different political platforms.
NDC Claims Growing Influence
Dickson said the NDC has made significant progress since it emerged.
He described the party as a growing opposition platform capable of competing in Nigeria’s political space.
“Months down the line, we have built a formidable party and a major opposition platform in Nigeria,” he said.
Dickson said the decision to establish the NDC was aimed at creating an alternative rather than moving into the ruling party.
The NDC leader maintained that preserving political competition was central to the decision.
