By Obinna Uballa
Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West Senatorial District and is a former governor of Bayelsa State, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dickson announced his defection on Thursday during a press conference at his residence in Abuja, where he said the opposition party had deteriorated significantly in recent years.
Addressing journalists, the former governor lamented what he described as the declining condition of the PDP, saying the party that once inspired hope and excitement among Nigerians had become severely weakened.
“The PDP is sick and presently in the ICU,” he said.
Dickson also accused some PDP governors of undermining the party’s unity by aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a development he said had deepened the party’s internal crisis and weakened its position as a credible opposition platform.
According to him, the situation forced him to chart a new political direction by joining the NDC, a newly registered political party approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He explained that the decision became necessary for him to continue his political career on a platform that aligns with his present political vision.
Shortly after his announcement, Dickson was formally received by the leadership of the NDC.
He was presented with the party’s flag and issued a membership card bearing the number “001,” symbolising his status as one of the pioneering members of the party.
Dickson served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2020 before he was elected 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.
