Former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Henry Seriake Dickson, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other African leaders to strengthen democratic institutions, protect the independence of electoral bodies, and revitalise the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Dickson made the appeal in Abuja on Friday after receiving the Pillar of Nigeria Democracy Award at the 6th Anniversary Lecture, Dinner and Awards organised by Diplomatic Digest Magazine in collaboration with the Diplomatic Correspondents Chapel.
The event brought together senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, policymakers, academics, media professionals, traditional rulers and representatives of foreign missions, including officials from the Ghana High Commission, the Embassy of Burkina Faso and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Receiving the award, Dickson described the honour as recognition of the sacrifices made by Nigerians who have remained committed to constitutional governance since the country’s return to democracy in 1999.
He dedicated the award to members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and millions of Nigerians who, according to him, have continued to defend democratic ideals despite political challenges.
“Democracy is not a sprint; it is a marathon. It is the democratic path to development, but there are no shortcuts on that path,” Dickson said.
The former governor stressed that democracy could only flourish where the Constitution is respected, the rule of law prevails, the judiciary remains independent, the media operates freely and the electoral commission enjoys public confidence.
He warned against actions capable of weakening democratic institutions, insisting that no government or political party should place itself above the Constitution or institutions created to protect Nigeria’s democracy.
Dickson also expressed concern over the wave of military takeovers and constitutional disruptions across West Africa, describing the trend as a threat to regional stability.
As Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, he urged President Tinubu to sustain diplomatic engagement with the Alliance of Sahel States while working to restore ECOWAS as a stronger and more united regional bloc.
According to him, Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa is closely tied to the strength of ECOWAS, warning that any erosion of the regional body would weaken Nigeria’s strategic influence on the continent.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Dickson called on the Federal Government, political parties and relevant stakeholders to safeguard the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the judiciary and security agencies to ensure that election outcomes reflect the genuine will of the people.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Democratic Congress to constitutional governance, accountability, inclusive leadership and the strengthening of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
Earlier at the event, the anniversary lecture, themed “Chinese Diplomatic Tools and the Redefinition of the Global Governance System,” was delivered by Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, who urged Nigeria to adopt a more strategic approach in its engagement with China.
Ghali said Nigeria should leverage its relationship with China to drive industrialisation, infrastructure development, technology transfer, innovation and human capital development, while ensuring that bilateral cooperation is guided by national interest and long-term economic growth rather than dependency.
Also speaking, the spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, underscored the importance of diplomacy in attracting foreign investment, expanding trade, promoting peace and strengthening Nigeria’s influence within Africa and the international community.
He called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, the diplomatic community, academia, the private sector and the media to project a positive image of Nigeria and advance the country’s foreign policy objectives.
In his welcome address, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic Digest Magazine, Kennedy Peretei, thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, for her leadership and support for the diplomatic community.
He also expressed appreciation to members of the diplomatic corps for their continued support over the magazine’s six-year journey, pledging to uphold its editorial standards while promoting informed discourse on diplomacy and governance.
