Senator Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa, leaves the PDP

Senator Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa, has left the PDP. According to Glamtush, Seriake Dickson, the senator for Bayelsa West, has declared his intention to switch parties. He plans to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He intends to join the recently established Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). This news outlet knows the former Bayelsa State governor announced this during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday. He attributed his departure from the PDP on what he called “irreconcilable differences” within the previous ruling party. The congressman did, however, assert that the NDC was just registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He stated it would perform as the nation’s preferred opposition party. For the sake of a better Nigeria, he urged Nigerians to identify with and join the new party. “The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the country’s newest political party, was granted a certificate of registration by INEC last week. Our emblem is the victory sign. The Nigeria Democratic Congress is now a legitimate option opposition party, my fellow Nigerians.” Yes, it is coming at this time. We wish it had started a few years or months ago, but thank God it has finally arrived. We don’t control INEC and their processes, they delayed, and we don’t also control the judiciary,” Dickson remarked. Nigeria can’t be a one-party state. The senator emphasized his deep roots in opposition politics. He recalled how he first entered politics as a member of multiple opposition parties. “This country can’t be a one-party state; Nigeria is not intended to be a one-party state. Our nation’s diversity in terms of culture, religion, and politics is what makes it so beautiful.” So, we create political parties and participate in movements to gain power for the advantage of the people. Our actions are not for our goods and benefits. If anyone or any party is advocating one-party rule, a one-party state in Nigeria,” he stated. Two new political parties were registered, according to INEC’s announcement last month. There are now 21 recognized political parties in Nigeria. They include the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). During the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan made the news. Since Prof. Amupitan took office in October 2025, it was the first meeting with party leaders. Prof. Amupitan claims that the NDC was registered according to a Federal High Court ruling. The DLA finished a stringent verification process successfully.