Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has warned that democracy in Nigeria and the wider ECOWAS region is under serious threat, as he received the Pillar of Nigeria Democracy Award at the Diplomatic Digest 6th Anniversary Lecture.
In a post on his X handle, Dickson — a prominent opposition voice in the Senate — used the occasion to deliver a blunt assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of presiding over a narrowing democratic space and a “dysfunctional foreign policy” that has weakened ECOWAS.
The event, held in collaboration with the Diplomatic Correspondence Chapel, was attended by diplomats and representatives of the Ghana High Commission, Burkina Faso High Commission, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dickson dedicated the award to the leaders and members of the NDC and to all Nigerians, but his remarks were firmly focused on what he called a troubling drift towards authoritarianism across the continent.
“Democracy is not a sprint; it is a marathon,” he wrote. “It is the democratic path to development, but it is not a shortcut, for there are no shortcuts on the democratic path to development.”
He argued that a genuine democracy requires a free and independent media, an impartial judiciary, and an electoral body that commands public confidence — and he issued a pointed warning to those in power.
“Civilians in authority who operate under the Constitution must not undermine the Constitution, institutions of state and democracy itself while claiming to be democrats. Without these essential elements, there is little difference between a civilian dictator and a military dictator.”
Dickson said Nigeria had moved beyond the era of military dictatorship, but expressed alarm at the shrinking democratic space in Africa and the ECOWAS sub-region. He noted that the emergence of breakaway blocs, such as the Alliance of Sahel States, reflected poorly on Nigerian leadership.
“Considerable effort and sacrifice have gone into building and sustaining the regional body,” he said. “It is therefore unfortunate that, under the APC government and its dysfunctional foreign policy, ECOWAS has weakened before our very eyes.”
He called on the President to resist using state institutions as instruments of the ruling party, and to work with other African leaders to uphold constitutional rule, respect term limits, and guarantee free and fair elections.
“When a government is perceived as oppressive, dictatorial, and above the Constitution and the institutions of the state, it inevitably loses the confidence and support of its citizens,” Dickson warned. “When a government or political party begins to see itself as bigger than the nation, the Constitution, the judiciary, and other democratic institutions, it loses legitimate and popular support.”
Looking towards the 2027 general elections, Dickson demanded a firm commitment — led by the President and the ruling party — to respect the independence and impartiality of INEC, the judiciary, and the security agencies.
“Nigerians must be assured that electoral outcomes truly reflect the wishes of the majority. This is the only way to deepen and strengthen our democracy,” he said.
He commended NDC officials, including state chairmen from the North Central Zone, and dedicated the award to the people of Nigeria and all NDC candidates.
“I thank the organisers for the recognition and especially for acknowledging my efforts in the Senate as a key opposition voice and for our sacrifices in building the NDC,” he wrote.
