Defend Your Votes: Dickson urges Nigerians to stand against electoral malpractice

Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, has called on all Nigerians to get ready to defend their votes in their polling units, communities, and wards where elections are held.

 The former Bayelsa State Governor made this call during the book launch of “African Politics and Development” by H.R.H. Dr. Famous Eseduwo.

Senator Dickson emphasised that this has been his message and practice since 2015, when he led Bayelsa State in opposition.

He said despite federal might, his team kept defeating opponents through elections, and he believed this resilience must now be replicated nationwide.

“And to the glory of God, we kept defeating those who were banking on Federal might, election after election, till date.This resilience must now be replicated nationwide,” he said.

He urged all Nigerians to defend their votes and ensure that democratic values were preserved.

His words: ”I call on all Nigerians to get ready to defend their votes in their polling units, communities, and wards where elections are held”.

Dickson condemned vote buying and selling, attributing it to illiteracy and widespread poverty, noting that the practice was a result of the weaponization of poverty and ignorance and is condemnable.

According to him, “Vote buying and selling, which is caused mainly by illiteracy and widespread poverty, is the outcome of the weaponisation of poverty and ignorance, and it is condemnable.

“The worst form of electoral malpractice was the outright writing of false figures, purporting to be results of votes, due to the compromise of the electoral umpire, security agencies, and the failures of the Judiciary”, he added.

“They do so and tell you to ‘go to court’, knowing fully well that the Judiciary is helpless and cannot do anything”, he added.

Dickson further stressed the need for all lovers of Nigeria and democracy to unite across party lines to ensure that democratic values were preserved.

He congratulated Dr. Eseduwo on the book launch, which brought together scholars, politicians, and civil society members, and encouraged all Nigerians to document their thoughts and experiences and promote scholarship.

He called on Nigerians to reject such practices and demand free and fair elections.

He said the book launch, which was attended by scholars, politicians, and civil society members, was a significant event that promotes scholarship and democracy.

Dickson thanked Dr Eseduwo and his team for inaugurating AGPAM, an NGO aimed at preaching against and stopping vote buying and selling.

In his remarks, Dickson congratulated him for finding the time to write this important book, and encouraged all people to document their thoughts and experiences and to promote scholarship.