……Says INEC Chair Must Uphold Integrity, Write His Name in History
By Fatima Saka, Abuja
Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, has called for far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system and within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the newly nominated INEC Chairman, Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to “do things differently” and restore public trust in elections.
Interacting with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, Senator Dickson expressed confidence that the nominee, given his background as both a legal scholar and senior advocate, possesses the integrity and understanding required to transform Nigeria’s electoral process.
“We believe that the professor of law and the senior advocate, conscious of his standing among his peers, will understand that elections must not be about figures being cooked up and declared while people are told to go to court,” Dickson said. “He must know that beyond public judgment, there is also the judgment of history and of God over his actions.”
The former Bayelsa State governor emphasized the need for INEC to implement reforms that would make elections credible, transparent, and reflective of the people’s will. He pledged to work with his colleagues in the National Assembly to ensure that proposed electoral reforms are passed into law.
“As a member of the Senate and the Electoral Committee, I will work to ensure that the reforms the assembly has been working on see the light of day,” he added. “We expect Professor [Osipita]* to understand his place in history, as the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria to be nominated for this role, and to write his name in gold.”
On the state of Nigeria’s political parties, Senator Dickson condemned the frequent defection of politicians to the ruling party, describing it as a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
“I do not believe Nigeria should be a one-party state,” he stated. “It is very sad that some of our political leaders, instead of showing leadership, have created crises in their parties and are now running away from the problems they caused.”
Drawing a comparison with Ghana, Dickson praised the maturity of Ghanaian democracy, where defeated politicians remain loyal to their parties and contribute to rebuilding them rather than defecting.
“In Ghana, when leaders lose elections, they stay in their parties, reorganize, and rebuild. But in Nigeria, everyone rushes to the ruling party. You don’t even know what is pursuing them or what they are pursuing,” he remarked, to the amusement of his audience.
The Bayelsa senator reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying he remains “as constant as the Northern Star,” and will continue to work with colleagues to strengthen internal democracy within the party.
“I believe in a plural Nigeria, one that thrives on multi-party democracy. Our nation’s future depends on credible elections and responsible political leadership,” he added.
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