Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, has raised the alarm over increasing incidents of political thuggery and violence across the country, calling for an emergency national summit to address the growing threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Dickson expressed concern over what he described as the rising pattern of attacks targeting political opponents, warning that the trend poses a serious danger to democratic participation, political stability and the safety of citizens.
In a statement issued on November 15, 2026, the former governor said the increasing resort to violence and intimidation in the political space required urgent attention from political leaders, security agencies and other stakeholders.
He stressed the need for collective action to prevent the situation from escalating, insisting that political disagreements must not be allowed to degenerate into physical attacks, threats and intimidation.
Dickson called for an emergency summit involving relevant political stakeholders and security authorities to examine the growing incidents of political violence and develop practical measures to curb the menace.
He maintained that Nigeria’s democratic space must remain open to healthy political competition, where opposing views are tolerated and political differences are resolved through lawful and peaceful means.
The senator further warned against allowing thuggery and political violence to become instruments of political mobilisation, urging political leaders to demonstrate responsibility and ensure that their supporters conduct themselves within the bounds of the law.
He called on security agencies to take decisive steps to protect citizens and political actors, investigate reported cases of violence and bring perpetrators to justice, regardless of their political affiliations.
Dickson reiterated the importance of safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy from the threats posed by political intolerance, intimidation and violence, urging all stakeholders to act before the situation deteriorates further.
