Former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has expressed concern over the rising incidents of thuggery, attacks and political violence targeting the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, its candidates and supporters.
Dickson, in a statement, condemned the growing trend, insisting that violence must not be allowed to become part of Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Whatever the circumstances, violence has no place in our democratic process,” he said.
He called on the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies to urgently organise an all-party summit to address the situation.
According to him, the proposed meeting would provide an opportunity for political parties to renew their commitment to peaceful, fair and transparent elections.
He warned that failure to address the growing violence could create a dangerous atmosphere capable of disrupting or undermining the 2027 general elections.
“We must not allow political disagreements and rivalries to degenerate into violence capable of threatening our democracy,” Dickson cautioned.
On internal party matters, the senator disclosed that he had held discussions with various party leaders over concerns recently raised by some NDC officials.
He said he had urged the leadership to address the issues and ensure that the interests of all members were considered.
Dickson also revealed that arrangements were underway to appoint committed party members to various committees and directorates of the NDC National Campaign Council.
He said he had directed the party's executive leadership to expedite the release of the appointment lists, urging members to cooperate with the team.
The former governor further disclosed that he had asked the party leadership to provide financial support to state chapters to strengthen their operations while efforts continued to raise additional campaign funds.
Addressing preparations for the 2027 elections, Dickson urged the party's National Assembly, State House of Assembly and governorship candidates to prioritise the identification, verification and training of polling agents.
He stressed the need for effective collaboration between candidates and the presidential campaign team to ensure adequate representation across polling units.
Dickson also encouraged cooperation with other political parties, excluding the NDC's major contenders where necessary, to strengthen the party's presence at polling units nationwide.
He maintained that candidates must have a significant voice in the selection and deployment of agents because they would be directly involved in defending the party's interests during elections.
However, he emphasised that such decisions must be taken in consultation with the party's leadership and other stakeholders.
According to him, the process must be concluded and decentralised promptly to allow the uploading of agents' details and commencement of training later in November and throughout December.
Dickson described the 2027 general elections as an agent-based election, stressing the importance of proper preparation to protect the party's votes.
2027: Dickson raises alarm over political violence, calls for all-party summit