Nigeria's newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) party has been dismissed as a proxy of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by its national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Senator Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West Senatorial District, made this statement in Abuja on Tuesday, defending the legitimacy and independence of the NDC party. He stated that the party's registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) followed due process and a court order.
According to Senator Dickson, there is no litigation against the NDC's registration, and INEC has already implemented the court order, making it impossible to reverse. He rejected claims that INEC or the APC were seeking to challenge the party in court, describing such assertions as baseless.
Senator Dickson described the NDC as an ideological platform established to bring together Nigerians who share similar democratic values. He emphasized the constitutional right to political association, stating that Nigerians must be allowed to make independent political choices.
Senator Dickson also addressed calls for him and his supporters to align with other opposition platforms, insisting that Nigerians must be free to make their own political choices. He cited the example of thousands of Nigerians who have the right to belong to the NDC, ADC, APC, or Labour Party.
Senator Dickson's statement is a direct challenge to those who have been speculating about the NDC's legitimacy. By dismissing claims that the party is a proxy of the APC, Dickson is asserting the NDC's independence and commitment to democratic values. The real test will be in how the party engages with other opposition groups and how it will be received by Nigerians.
