Former Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has pushed back against criticisms surrounding the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting that the party’s registration process is longstanding, transparent, and well documented.
In a statement shared on Monday via his X handle, Dickson urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as misleading narratives about the party, expressing confidence in its growing national appeal.
According to him, the NDC is gaining momentum as a result of a strategic convergence of experienced political actors with strong grassroots influence, all working to build a credible national platform.
He explained that the vision for the party goes beyond immediate electoral gains, describing it as an ideological movement designed for longevity and institutional strength.
“Our goal in the NDC is to build an ideological political party that can endure beyond its founders for generations to come,” he stated, adding that the party seeks to be comparable to long-standing political institutions globally in structure and stability.
Dickson also highlighted the party’s commitment to inclusion, noting that it places strong emphasis on youth and women participation, mentorship, and preparing citizens for public service.
Providing insight into the party’s formation, he disclosed that the NDC’s registration journey began as far back as 2017, when initial approval was reportedly granted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the process was later halted.
He explained that with the resumption of party registration activities last year, the promoters revisited and updated their earlier application to align with current requirements.
“For the record, when party registration resumed last year, we revisited and updated our earlier application,” he said.
Dickson added that supporting documents, including preparatory materials from 2017, form part of the party’s historical record.
Acknowledging that major political projects often attract scrutiny, he cautioned against distractions and urged supporters to remain focused.
“With experience in politics, I am fully aware that an ambitious project of this nature will attract distractions—rumours, gossip, propaganda, and even blackmail. I therefore urge Nigerians to ignore such propaganda about the NDC or any of its leaders,” he said.
He also called on Nigerians to actively participate in the political process through the NDC, describing the platform as open and inclusive.
“Together, let us reclaim and rebuild our country,” he added.
Expanding on his remarks, Dickson said: “I thank Nigerians across all parts of our country for their growing support and confidence in us and in the NDC. That trust has been the most important currency driving the party from its early days up until now, especially with the recent addition of my two distinguished colleagues.
“What we are witnessing is a powerful convergence: my role as a party organiser and builder, alongside two political heavyweights with immense grassroots support, popularity and political experience, as well as several other leaders in their own right across the country, all coming together under one platform.
“As I have consistently stated, our goal in the NDC is to build an ideological political party, one that can be compared to the ANC in its finest years in South Africa, as well as established political parties across Europe, America, India and even the Communist Party of China—in terms of stability, structure, and the ability to endure beyond its founders for generations to come.
“The NDC is a party with a special place for young people and women, one that prioritises mentorship and prepares citizens for service. It is designed to serve the people, not just the big, strong, and powerful, but also the ordinary and the vulnerable. For the record, the annexures show that we initiated the registration process for the NDC as far back as 2017 and that INEC granted approval at that time before the process was halted.
“When party registration resumed last year, we revisited and updated our earlier application. The other document shows a Google search we conducted on February 3, 2017, while searching for the appropriate “V-sign” as the party’s logo. With my experience in politics, I am fully aware that an ambitious project of this nature will attract distractions—rumours, gossip, propaganda, and even blackmail.
“These are all parts of the terrain that we are used to. I therefore urge Nigerians to discountenance and ignore such propaganda about the ndc or any of its leaders and remain focused on the bigger picture. I call on all Nigerians to join the NDC, register, participate, and contest elections. Together, let us reclaim and rebuild our country”.
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