Dr. Benedict Asemota, a public affairs analyst and researcher based in Baltimore has said that Senator Henry Seriake Dickson laid the foundations of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) years before former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi joined the party in 2026.

According to him, the process of registering the NDC began way back in 2017 when party officials identified state coordinators, developed grassroots structures, and invested personal resources over nearly nine years to meet INEC requirements for a new national political party.

He said this in a statement to newsmen in Sunday. According to him, Senator Dickson built his political career in opposition politics, adding that in 1998, “Dickson served as Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy in Bayelsa State when the PDP dominated the Niger Delta. He added that Dickson later served as National Legal Adviser of the Alliance for Democracy from 2000 to 2002.”

“Dickson joined the Peoples Democratic Party at the invitation of then-Acting Governor Goodluck Jonathan. He said Jonathan appointed him Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Bayelsa State from 2006 to 2007. Asemota explained that Dickson contributed to the political efforts that elevated Jonathan to governor and later vice president.”

“Dickson served on and chaired PDP committees that resolved internal disputes and strengthened party structures. He maintained that Dickson focused on party building and reconciliation during his time in the PDP.”

Asemota also stated that “Dickson won the 2015 Bayelsa governorship election as the PDP candidate. He said Dickson secured victory in a rerun despite the national APC wave and the deployment of federal resources against the PDP in the state.”

He revealed that President Muhammadu “Buhari had made overtures to Dickson to join the APC, but Dickson declined. Asemota added that Dickson remained in the opposition and continued building alternative political structures.”

According to Asemota, Dickson won election to the Senate representing Bayelsa West. He said Dickson has participated in Senate proceedings by critiquing governance issues and advocating for accountability and national unity.

“Dickson initiated and championed the NDC as a national platform after INEC lifted the embargo on new party registrations. Asemota noted that the party established structures across Nigeria’s geo-political zones and attracted early members including Senator Kabiru Marafa, Senator Aishatu Binani, and Amanda Pam.”

“Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso later joined the NDC. He said Obi emerged as the party’s presidential candidate with Kwankwaso as running mate. The analyst added that party officials described Obi and Kwankwaso as joining an existing institutional project with established structures.”

The Baltimore researcher said Dickson serves as the current National Leader of the NDC. He also noted that Dickson previously served as Governor of Bayelsa State.