The Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson, has left the Peoples Democratic Party to join the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress.
Dickson made the announcement during a world press conference held on Thursday at his residence in Abuja. He stated that the opposition party, which once dominated Nigeria’s political space, had significantly deteriorated.
The former Governor of Bayelsa State expressed disappointment over what he described as the worsening condition of the PDP, noting that the party which once inspired hope and enthusiasm among his supporters had become seriously weakened.
“The PDP is sick and presently in the ICU,” he lamented.
The senator further alleged that some PDP governors had been weakening the party by aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress. According to him, this development has deepened the party’s internal crisis and further diminished its strength as a credible opposition platform.
Dickson said the situation forced him to pursue a new political direction by joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress, a newly registered political party approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Explaining his decision, he said it had become necessary for him to continue his political journey on a platform that aligns with his present political goals.
Shortly after his address, Dickson was officially received by the leadership of the party. He was presented with the party’s official flag and given a membership card numbered “001,” signifying his position as one of the party’s pioneer members.
Dickson, a notable figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics, served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2020 before he was elected into the Senate in 2023 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
His defection comes amid rising concerns about internal divisions within the PDP and a growing wave of defections by party members to other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
More details to come.