Abuja: The senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson, has left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and announced his membership of a new political platform, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dickson announced his defection at a news conference in Abuja, where the NDC, one of the two new political parties recently registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was formally unveiled to the public. The former Bayelsa governor expressed concerns that Nigeria risked drifting toward a one-party state if urgent steps were not taken to strengthen democratic competition.
Dickson stated that his decision followed months of consultations and reflection on the state of the country’s democracy and the internal challenges confronting his former party, the PDP. He emphasized that the creation of the NDC aims to mobilize Nigerians across political divides who are concerned about the future of the country’s democratic system.
The senator highlighted that the formation of NDC is intended to build strong opposition, healthy debate, and credible alternatives within Nigeria’s political landscape. He further stated that the emergence of the new political platform is part of a broader effort to strengthen democratic institutions and restore confidence in Nigeria’s political process.
Dickson articulated that Nigeria’s democracy requires vibrant political competition, responsible leadership, and active participation by citizens committed to accountability, transparency, and good governance. He assured that the NDC would provide a platform for Nigerians who feel politically marginalized or excluded from the existing structures of power, while also offering a new vision for national development.
He called on all Nigerians who share this vision to come together to strengthen democracy and prevent any single party from dominating the political space. Dickson mentioned that he had been a faithful member of the PDP since 2005 and acknowledged the party’s historic role in Nigeria’s democratic development.
However, he lamented the party’s steady decline and internal crisis, attributing the situation to poor leadership and internal conflicts. He urged the governors and other leaders to take responsibility for the self-inflicted challenges facing the PDP.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Protem Chairman of the NDC, Sen. Cleopas Zuwogeh, presented Dickson with the membership card number 001 and handed over the party’s flag, symbolizing the authority and new beginning within the party.