National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has called for stakeholders’ support to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts free and credible elections, noting that elections must help in the unification of the country rather than create division.
This, he said, while accepting the presentation of the official letter awarding him the LEADERSHIP Politician of the Year 2026 Award from the Board and Management of LEADERSHIP Group Thursday.
The delegation, headed by the Vice Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group, Mike Okpere, presented the awarding letter to the former Bayelsa State Governor in Abuja.
In his acceptance speech, he expressed his gratitude, stating that the award was more than just an accolade to him, his family and the NDC, but also the NDC leadership and all Nigerians who support democratic ideals.
He dedicated the award to the members of the party and the late Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah.
Considering the establishment of the opposition party, Dickson revealed that NDC was created in a time of political difficulty in order to maintain multiparty democracy.
He stated that with all the internal problems facing his old party, the People Democratic Party (PDP), he made a deliberate decision to remain outside the APC to avoid Nigeria becoming a one-party system. This motivated him to create and register the NDC in order to give Nigerians a credible option.
Noting the success story of the party from its establishment to becoming a formidable opposition platform, the lawmaker thanked the efforts of the party officials, members, and its strategic partners. The efforts of the party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi and its vice-presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were mentioned for their partnership.
With all the party candidates having been announced for all the electoral positions for the coming general elections, Senator Dickson charged all party members to concentrate on ballot-wide mobilization.
He advised the disappointed aspirants to forget all their post-nomination disputes and urged them not to engage in any form of internal propaganda, second guessing, or any negative feeling towards the party.
Taking into account the larger political context, the leader of the NDC urged the President and security agencies of the state to create a level playing ground for all political parties and safeguard them from any acts of political violence during their campaigns.
Dickson urged the politicians to give due respect to the judiciary and avoid unnecessary litigations on political matters, saying political differences should be sorted out mainly through ballot boxes.
