Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator Seriake Dickson has publicly accused his successor, Governor Douye Diri, of political betrayal by surrendering a hard-won mandate to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a strongly worded address, Dickson expressed deep disappointment with the direction of the Diri administration. He recalled the political sacrifices made to nurture Diri’s career, noting that the governor had served under him as Principal Executive Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff before rising through the House of Representatives and Senate to the governorship.
Dickson said his support for Diri’s emergence as governor was driven by a desire to ensure continuity in Ijaw political leadership and to preserve the region’s long struggle for justice, representation and development. He had expected the administration he helped build to consolidate those gains rather than align with a party he had long opposed.
“Our victory was donated free of charge to the APC, making all of us overnight opposition members in our own state, in a government we formed, in a governorship I crafted, and an administration we worked hard to put in power,” Dickson lamented.
He further accused elements within the current administration of political victimisation, intimidation, dismissals and the marginalisation of loyal associates who had contributed to the government’s emergence. Those who remained faithful to the structures that brought Diri to power, he alleged, have faced hardship and exclusion.
Despite the sharp criticism, Dickson insisted the disagreement was not personal hostility. “The governor is still my person, my brother, my compatriot and our governor. But he is now someone I disagree with,” he stated. He urged his supporters to reject violence, threats and personal attacks, stressing that political differences should be resolved through democratic participation.
Turning to the federal level, Dickson delivered a scathing assessment of the APC, accusing the ruling party of failing to convert the Niger Delta’s vast oil wealth into meaningful infrastructure and equitable representation. He questioned why communities that produce a substantial share of Nigeria’s petroleum revenue continue to suffer from poor roads, bridges and basic services, and criticised the inadequate presence of Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta in senior civilian and military appointments.
“The APC has nothing to offer Bayelsans; nothing to show in terms of roads and bridges and infrastructure,” he declared. Political progress in Bayelsa, he argued, had largely been achieved under Peoples Democratic Party administrations rather than the APC. He urged Bayelsans to reject the party at the polls.
The comments come amid intensifying political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition figures seek to build a strong electoral coalition in the state. The allegations remain Dickson’s account of the dispute; no response from Governor Diri was included in the statement.
