Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a newly registered political party of which he is the Founder and National Leader.
The announcement came today during proceedings in the Senate, where the former Bayelsa State Governor notified the upper chamber of his change in party affiliation.
In a statement outlining his decision, Senator Dickson highlighted the rapid progress of the NDC, which he described as achieving “tremendous success across the country” despite being barely two weeks old. He expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their solidarity, support, and confidence in the fledgling party.
“I wish to commend Nigerians for their solidarity, support, and the confidence reposed in us,” Dickson stated. “I also commend our state and national officials for the work they are doing, and I urge them to keep up the fight for a multiparty democracy in Nigeria.”
The senator emphasized the urgency of mass registration to meet regulatory requirements set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He noted that while all political parties are currently conducting membership drives, the law does not mandate a minimum number of registered members, and the NDC is already surpassing expectations in enrollment.
Dickson extended an open invitation to “all like-minded persons,” including those dissatisfied with their current parties, professionals, politicians, and citizens frustrated with the existing political system. He specifically reached out to individuals whose previous political associations were not registered, urging them to join in building “a viable and credible political party.”
“The NDC is for us all,” he declared, reiterating thanks to Nigerians and calling for widespread registration nationwide.
The defection follows months of speculation about Dickson’s political future amid reported internal challenges within the PDP. The move positions the NDC as a fresh platform aimed at strengthening multiparty democracy and providing an alternative for voters seeking change.
Senator Dickson, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics and former governor of Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2020, now becomes the sole serving senator representing the NDC in the National Assembly.
