A former Governor of Bayelsa and leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has said that multiparty democracy must survive in Nigeria.

Mr Dickson made the declaration at the NDC national convention in Abuja, where the party also resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria.

The former Bayelsa governor insisted that the country needed both a strong ruling party and a vibrant opposition.

According to him, Nigeria cannot be allowed to drift into a one-party state, stressing that democracy thrives when there are credible opposition parties capable of providing alternatives to governance.

“Multiparty democracy must survive in Nigeria. Nigeria needs a strong party in government as well as strong parties in opposition,” he said.

The former governor said the NDC, though barely three months old, had recorded unprecedented acceptance and enthusiasm across the country.

“A few months ago, they ignored the NDC. They laughed at the NDC. But today, they can no longer ignore us,” Mr Dickson said.

He explained that efforts to register the party began in 2017 after concerns that the ideals and foundations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had weakened.

The leader said the party eventually secured a favourable court judgment, leading to its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February.

According to him, there is no pending litigation against the NDC and no internal crisis threatening the party.

“The NDC has come to stay. The NDC is good to go. The NDC has no faction, no crisis and no dispute,” he said.

Mr Dickson commended Nigerians, especially members of the Obedient Movement, for resisting what he described as propaganda, intimidation and blackmail against the party.

He said political leaders from all parts of the country had embraced the NDC vision of national unity, inclusion and democratic renewal.

The former governor said the political landscape in Nigeria would never remain the same again.

He added that the party would take its message of change to every ward, polling unit, local government and state in the federation.

He described the NDC as a credible and viable opposition platform open to all Nigerians.

Mr Dickson also announced that the party had adopted a historic resolution zoning its presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria in the interest of fairness, balance and national stability.

“Today, we have taken a historic resolution zoning the next presidential ticket of our party to the southern part of Nigeria because we want a balanced and stable Nigeria founded on justice, inclusion and equal citizenship,” he said.

He added that the NDC was determined to build an ideological political party similar to South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), rather than a “transactional party” driven by election-season arrangements.

Similarly, Peter Obi, a former Labour Party presidential candidate, said that Nigeria must not be allowed to become a one-party state.

He insisted that the country must remain democratic with credible electoral processes.

Mr Obi, who recently joined the NDC, said Nigeria’s democracy must be protected to ensure fairness, justice and equal political participation for all parties.

“We must insist that Nigeria cannot become a one-party state. Nigeria must remain a democracy, and we are determined that in 2027, we will have free, fair and credible elections,” Mr Obi said.

He said the NDC was committed to rebuilding the country and restoring hope among Nigerians through good governance, justice and national unity

He also stressed the need to tackle poverty, unemployment and insecurity across the country, describing them as major challenges facing Nigerians.

The former Anambra governor maintained that Nigeria had the potential to prosper but required responsible leadership and accountable governance to achieve national development.

He urged Nigerians to support efforts to build a better, more inclusive nation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Obi pledged that the NDC would work toward building a prosperous and productive nation by shifting the economy from consumption to production.

(NAN)