Senator and ex-governor has left the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to join the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing the PDP’s severe internal woes as a key factor in his decision.
Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West and who governed the southern state from 2012 to 2020, made the announcement at a press briefing in the capital on Thursday.
The NDC, recently certified by electoral officials, handed him its flag and a symbolic first membership card.
Dickson lamented the PDP’s downfall, saying: “The PDP is sick and presently in the ICU.” He expressed sorrow that the party, once a beacon of hope for his constituents, had deteriorated sharply.
He blamed certain PDP state executives for colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress, which he said had deepened the party’s crisis and eroded its opposition role.
“This situation compelled me to chart a new political path by joining the NDC,” Dickson explained, adding it aligned better with his ongoing ambitions.
The switch comes as the PDP grapples with factionalism and member exits in the lead-up to the 2027 polls, with Dickson having secured his Senate seat on the party’s ticket in 2023.
