FORMER BAYELSA GOVERNOR SERIAKE DICKSON DEFECTS FROM APC TO NDC
Read Time:2 Minute, 31 Second
BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
A senator from Bayelsa West, Senator Seriake Dickson, has left the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress.
He made this decision public during a press event held at his home in Abuja on Thursday.
During the event, he talked about how the opposition party, which used to be a big force in Nigerian politics, has fallen apart a lot.
He also shared his disappointment about the current state of the PDP, saying that the party, which once gave hope and happiness to his people, is now in serious trouble.
“The PDP is sick and presently in the ICU,” he lamented.
The senator also blamed some PDP governors for weakening the party by working with the ruling All Progressives Congress, which he said made the party‘s internal problems worse and made it harder for the party to be a strong opposition force.
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.
While explaining his decision, Dickson said it had become necessary for him to move forward with his political career on a platform that reflects his current political aspirations.
Shortly after his speech, Dickson was formally welcomed into the party by its leadership.
He was presented with the official flag of the NDC 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 platform of the PDP.
His defection comes amid growing concerns about internal divisions within the PDP and a wave of defections by party members to other political platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This nation cannot be a one-party state, Nigeria cannot be a one-party state, Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state. We are a very diverse nation culturally, religiously and politically and that is the beauty of our country.
“So, anyone or any party promoting one-party rule, a one-party state in Nigeria, we build political parties, we get involved in movements to access power for the good of the people, not for our goods and benefits,” he said.
INEC last month announced the registration of two new political parties.
The parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), bringing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21.
The announcement was made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026. It was the first meeting with party leaders since Prof. Amupitan assumed office in October 2025.
According to Prof. Amupitan, the DLA successfully completed a rigorous verification process, while the NDC was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0