The senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Dickson announced his defection on Thursday at a news conference in Abuja, where 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 also said Nigeria risked drifting toward a one-party state if urgent steps were not taken to strengthen democratic competition.

He said his decision followed months of consultations and deep reflection on the state of the country’s democracy and the internal challenges confronting the PDP.

According to him, NDC was created to mobilise Nigerians across political divides who are concerned about the future of the country’s democratic system.

“We cannot sit back and watch the country drift into what is effectively a one-party state,” the politician said. “Democracy thrives on strong opposition, healthy debate and credible alternatives, and that is what we intend to build.”

The senator further stated that the emergence of the new political platform was not merely a reaction to the crisis within PDP but part of a broader effort to strengthen democratic institutions and restore confidence in Nigeria’s political process.

He said Nigeria’s democracy required vibrant political competition, responsible leadership, and active participation by citizens committed to upholding the principles of accountability, transparency, and good governance.

“We are building a coalition of democrats, people who believe that Nigeria must remain a nation where political power is contested fairly and where citizens have real options.

“We invite all Nigerians who share this vision to come together so that we can strengthen our democracy and ensure that no single party dominates the political space to the detriment of the people,” he said.

Mr Dickson stated that he had been a faithful and committed member of PDP since 2005.

The former governor said that he remained emotionally attached to the PDP because of its historic role in Nigeria’s democratic development.

“No other party in Nigeria, from independence till date, has done for my people and for so-called minorities what the PDP did.

“Unfortunately, my beloved party is not only sick; it has been sick for a long time. The PDP today is in the intensive care unit, and the doctors are not smiling,” he said.

The senator blamed the situation on poor leadership and internal conflicts within the party, stressing: “The governors and other leaders must take responsibility for the avoidable, self-inflicted destruction of the PDP.”

The pro tem chairman of NDC, Cleopas Zuwogeh, presented Mr Dickson with membership card number 001 and handed over the party’s flag, symbol, and authority to him.

(NAN)