Seriake Dickson explains why he refused to join APC, saying he chose the NDC to preserve political competition and strengthen opposition in Nigeria
Former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Seriake Dickson, said on Thursday, 17 September 2026, that he refused to join the All Progressives Congress because he did not want to support a political arrangement that could lead Nigeria towards a one-party state.
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Dickson made the disclosure in Abuja while receiving the management of _Leadership_ newspaper, explaining that developments within his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, influenced his decision to pursue a different political path.
The former governor said the decision to establish the NDC came at a difficult period for the opposition, when uncertainty within the PDP had raised questions about the future of political competition in Nigeria.
“I did not believe Nigeria should become a one-party state,” Dickson said.
Rather than defect to the ruling APC, Dickson said he and his political associates decided to create another platform through which Nigerians could participate in the democratic process.
He said the decision was driven by the need to preserve political competition and provide voters with an alternative to the governing party.
Dickson described the NDC’s progress since its emergence as significant, saying the party had developed into a major opposition platform.
“Months down the line, we have built a formidable party and a major opposition platform in Nigeria,” he said.
His comments come amid heightened political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with politicians and political groups repositioning themselves as parties prepare for the next electoral cycle.
The former Bayelsa governor’s explanation also offers insight into the political calculations behind the formation of the NDC, particularly against the backdrop of divisions and defections involving established opposition parties.
Dickson said the difficulties confronting the PDP contributed to his decision to seek a fresh political direction rather than join the APC.
His position places political pluralism and the preservation of an organised opposition at the centre of his explanation for remaining outside the ruling party.
The NDC’s emergence adds another layer to Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, as political actors seek new alliances and platforms to challenge the established parties.
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For Dickson, the decision to establish a new party was ultimately linked to his stated belief that Nigerians should have more than one significant political platform through which they can compete for political power.
