By NAOMI SHARANG

National Leader, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sen. Seriake Dickson has expressed concern over the alleged monetisation of Nigeria’s electoral process, saying the development poses serious threats to democracy.

Dickson, a former Bayelsa Governor made his feelings know on Saturday in Abuja while speaking after a meeting with former leaders and members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

He said the meeting was primarily convened to reconnect former colleagues who worked together in the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and not intended to take definitive political positions on contemporary issues.

The National Leader said: “However, we all have personal experiences and I can answer that as a person and as leader of the NDC, we are very concerned about the militarisation of states, not just Osun”.

Dickson, who served as Bayelsa governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said his personal experience as an opposition governor had shaped his concerns about the use of state institutions during elections.

“I was an opposition governor. I was the only governor that led Bayelsa to victory in elections in opposition. I know what the federal forces did to me in Bayelsa,” he said.

He said there were legitimate concerns about the conduct of security agencies and other state institutions during off-cycle and general elections.

According to him, the concerns extend beyond the ongoing Osun election to other states where elections are scheduled to take place.

“There are genuine concerns about what state institutions will do or may be used for in the course of the upcoming general elections,” he said.

Dickson recalled that elections in the early years of the Fourth Republic were largely driven by political ideas rather than financial inducements.

He said that when AD and other parties were active around 1998 and 1999, political leaders and candidates did not have to pay voters to secure their support.

“We didn’t have money. Voters were not asking for money. Political leaders and politicians were also not giving money,” he said.

Dickson said the situation had changed significantly, with elections increasingly resembling an auction in which candidates compete through financial inducements.

He said the former AD members at the meeting reflected on the sacrifices made by political actors who contributed to the restoration and consolidation of democracy.

According to him, many of those who worked to lay the foundation for Nigeria’s democracy had made difficult decisions and sacrifices that were often forgotten.

“We reminded ourselves that sacrifices were made, difficult decisions were taken and people worked their brains out to enable us to have this democracy that we see,” he said.

Dickson said the meeting also provided an opportunity to honour the memory of colleagues and leaders who had passed away.

The former governor explained that the meeting was not designed to announce any new political alliance or take decisions on the 2027 elections.

He, however, disclosed that he formally informed the former AD members that he and others had started a political party, the NDC.

“Like I said, with time, we will discuss, have other conversations and then appropriate decisions will be taken. But not for today,” he said.

Dickson said the meeting was primarily an opportunity to rekindle old friendships, rebuild networks and strengthen relationships among former political allies.

The meeting brought together former AD leaders and members, including the party’s founding national secretary, Prof. Udenta Udenta and other former officials. (NAN)

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