Seriake Dickson surprisingly dumps PDP for NDC

The senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Dickson announced his decision on Thursday during a news conference in Abuja, where the NDC, one of the newly registered political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was formally unveiled to the public.

Speaking at the event, the former Bayelsa governor warned that Nigeria could drift toward a one-party system if steps are not taken to strengthen political competition.

“We cannot sit back and watch the country drift into what is effectively a one-party state,” Mr Dickson said.

According to him, democracy thrives on strong opposition, open debate, and credible alternatives, which he said the new party hopes to provide.

Decision follows consultations

Mr Dickson said his defection came after months of consultations and reflection on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the internal challenges facing the PDP.

He explained that the NDC was created to mobilise Nigerians across political divides who are concerned about the future of the country’s democratic system.

The senator added that the new platform was not only a response to the crisis within the PDP but also part of a broader effort to strengthen democratic institutions and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s political process.

‘PDP is in intensive care’

Despite leaving the party, Mr Dickson said he still feels emotionally attached to the PDP, noting that he had been a committed member since 2005.

“No other party in Nigeria, from independence till date, has done for my people and for so-called minorities what the PDP did,” he said.

However, he argued that the party is currently facing deep internal problems.

“My beloved party is not only sick; it has been sick for a long time. The PDP today is in the intensive care unit, and the doctors are not smiling,” he added.

He blamed the situation on poor leadership and internal conflicts, saying the party’s governors and leaders must take responsibility for its current state.

At the event, the pro tem chairman of the NDC, Cleopas Zuwogeh, presented Mr Dickson with membership card number 001 and handed over the party’s flag and symbol to him.

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