Dickson Hints at Diri’s Defection to APC, Vows Loyalty to PDP

Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has hinted that Governor Douye Diri may be heading to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor Diri on Wednesday formally announced his decision to quit the PDP during an Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Yenagoa. Although he did not reveal his next political destination, multiple reports suggest he is preparing to join the ruling APC.

Reacting to the development after plenary at the National Assembly, Senator Dickson expressed disappointment over the governor’s move but reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP.

“I am where I have always been. I don’t believe Nigeria should become a one-party state,” Dickson said. “As a democrat, I understand the ups and downs of the process, but I remain constant and steadfast in the PDP.”

He criticised some PDP governors, including Diri, accusing them of abandoning their leadership responsibilities within the party and allowing internal crises to fester before jumping ship.

“It’s sad. Instead of fixing the problems, they let the crisis linger and are now bailing out. It makes Nigeria look small, ridicules our democracy, and endangers multiparty politics. What we are witnessing is political class suicide,” he stated.

Dickson revealed that Governor Diri had consulted him several times before making his decision but said he was not convinced by the reasons for the defection.

“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,” he maintained.

The former governor stressed the importance of sustaining opposition politics in Nigeria, warning that the collapse of the PDP would endanger democracy.

“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,” Dickson warned.