• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

Former governor of Bayelsa State and senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and announced his alignment with the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing the deepening crisis within the opposition party and the need to strengthen democratic alternatives in Nigeria. Dickson made the announcement while addressing journalists and supporters at a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, where he said the decision followed extensive consultations with political allies and associates across the country. The senator, known for his outspoken stance on national political issues, described his exit from the PDP as painful but necessary, warning that the party has been weakened by persistent internal conflicts and leadership challenges. "As painful and emotionally unpleasant as it is to leave this great party that offered us so much, we have to move on," Dickson said. He said the crisis within the PDP had raised serious doubts about its ability to remain a formidable opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the PDP that once united Nigerians across diverse political, regional and social interests had lost much of its cohesion in recent years. "The PDP was once a broad political platform that brought Nigerians together and played a significant role in promoting the interests of minority groups while strengthening democratic governance," he noted. Dickson, who served two terms as governor of Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2020 before his election to the Senate, thanked his constituents for the confidence they had reposed in him over the years. He expressed appreciation for the mandate he currently holds as senator representing Bayelsa West and the earlier opportunity to lead Bayelsa State as governor. "I remain grateful to the good people of Bayelsa West and the entire Bayelsa State for the support and confidence they have continued to place in me throughout my political journey," he said. Reflecting on his political history, Dickson said his career had always been guided by a commitment to democratic ideals and the willingness to challenge the political establishment whenever necessary. He recalled his role in Nigeria's democratic struggle in the late 1990s, when he said he joined a group of young Nigerians who mobilised youths across the country to participate in the transition to civil rule. Dickson noted that he formally joined the PDP in 2005 and had remained a loyal member of the party for nearly two decades before deciding to leave. Despite his loyalty to the party over the years, he said the prolonged internal disputes within the PDP had eroded its capacity to function effectively as a strong opposition force. The senator also warned against the possibility of the country drifting toward a one-party political system, stressing that Nigeria's diversity makes such a development undesirable. "The nation cannot and should not become a one-party state. Our diversity demands a vibrant and competitive multiparty democracy," he said. He disclosed that he had resisted several attempts in the past to persuade him to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including during his tenure as governor. According to him, his refusal at the time was based on his conviction that Nigeria's democracy must be sustained by a strong and credible opposition. "I resisted the pressure to move to the APC because I believed firmly in the need for a vibrant opposition that can hold those in power accountable," he explained. Dickson further revealed that he and several political associates had been working for some time to establish a new political platform that would offer Nigerians a credible ideological alternative. He said the effort eventually led to the formation of the Nigeria Democratic Congress. The former governor disclosed that the group had initially faced legal hurdles with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the electoral body declined to register the association as a political party. According to him, the group challenged the decision in court, arguing that the refusal violated the constitutional right of Nigerians to freedom of association.The lawmaker said the court eventually ruled in favour of the association and directed INEC to proceed with the registration of the party. He commended the electoral commission for complying with the court judgment and completing the registration process. The senator thereafter formally declared that he had adopted the Nigeria Democratic Congress as his new political platform. Dickson expressed confidence that the party would help strengthen Nigeria's democratic system by providing voters with a credible political alternative. He added that the emergence of the NDC would contribute to deepening multiparty democracy and ensuring that the country's political space remains competitive. According to him, the party aims to promote democratic ideals, encourage national inclusion and provide a platform capable of addressing the aspirations of Nigerians ahead of future elections. Source: https://thesun.ng/why-sen-dickson-dumped-pdp/