Ex-Bayelsa Governor Dickson Dumps PDP For NDC

The lawmaker representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District and former governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Dickson announced his decision at a world press conference held on Thursday at his residence in Abuja, where he said the opposition party that once dominated Nigeria’s political landscape had deteriorated significantly.

Addressing journalists, the former governor expressed sadness over what he described as the declining state of the PDP, noting that the party, which once inspired hope and excitement among his supporters, had become gravely weakened.

“The PDP is sick and presently in the ICU,” he said.

The senator also accused some PDP governors of undermining the party’s strength by aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a development he said had worsened the party’s internal crisis and weakened its position as a viable opposition platform.

According to him, the situation compelled him to chart a new political path by joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress, a newly- registered political party approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Dickson said the move became necessary as he seeks to continue his political career on a platform that aligns with his current political aspirations.

Shortly after his announcement, the senator was formally welcomed into the party by the leadership of the NDC.

He was presented with the party’s official flag and issued a membership card bearing the number “001,” symbolising his status as one of the pioneering members of the party.

Dickson, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics, served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2020 before his election to the Senate in 2023 under the PDP platform.

His defection comes amid growing concerns over internal divisions within the PDP and a wave of defections by party members to other political platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.