Seriake Dickson Defects From PDP To NDC Citing Party Divisions
Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The former Bayelsa governor made the announcement at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, attributing his decision to the prolonged internal conflicts within the PDP. He also criticised politicians who have moved to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting he would not have left the PDP if the party had remained cohesive.
“Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state,” Dickson said.
He highlighted Nigeria’s political, cultural, and ethnic diversity, emphasizing the need for leadership that fosters unity, inclusion, and mutual respect among the country’s various groups.
Dickson said he opted for the NDC instead of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition because he was unsure of the ADC’s stance on key national issues, while the NDC’s manifesto provided a clearer roadmap.
“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 I identify with must be clear on these issues. Opposition coalitions are fine, but what is their governance agenda? Time will show if it is a coalition or a collision,” he explained.
Dickson was also among the senators who pushed for mandatory transmission of election results during the passage of the Electoral Act in February, reinforcing his focus on transparency and accountability in governance.
