2027: Bayelsa senator Dickson dumps PDP For newly registered party NDC

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

The former governor of Bayelsa State announced his decision during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

The NDC was recently registered as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February.

Explaining his decision, Dickson criticised the wave of defections by opposition politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that Nigeria must not slide into a one-party state.

“Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria’s political, cultural and ethnic diversity requires leadership that promotes unity, inclusion and mutual respect among the country’s various groups.

Dickson said he would not have left the PDP if the party had not been grappling with prolonged internal crises.

The lawmaker also revealed that he rejected joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition because he was uncertain about the party’s agenda for the country.

“I don’t frankly know where the ADC stands on some of the issues that are very important to me,” he said.

According to him, the NDC offers clearer positions on key national issues, particularly on governance and restructuring.

“The NDC stands for true federalism in a democratic Nigeria and the devolution of power. The NDC stands for investments in education, healthcare, and security for Nigerians.

“Any political party that I will call my own must be clear on those issues. It is a good thing for people to gather in opposition (ADC coalition). But I want to ask, what is their agenda for governance? What is the agenda beyond gathering? And time will tell whether it is a coalition or a collision.”

Dickson was among the senators who pushed for the mandatory electronic transmission of election results during the passage of the Electoral Act in February.