KEY POINTS

• Senator Seriake Dickson has defected from the PDP to the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress.

• He cited prolonged internal crises within the PDP and warned against Nigeria becoming a one-party state.

• Dickson said he chose the NDC because its manifesto clearly supports federalism, power devolution and stronger investment in key sectors.

Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress, a newly registered political party.

Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, announced his defection during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, saying the decision followed prolonged internal divisions within the PDP.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress was officially registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission in February, adding a new platform to Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of future elections.

Dickson said he had hoped to remain in the PDP but felt compelled to move on because of the party’s lingering internal crises.

He also warned that Nigeria must avoid drifting toward a one-party political system, stressing that the country’s democratic structure requires vibrant opposition parties.

“Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state,” he said.

Opposes rush to ruling party

The senator criticised politicians who have been defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, noting that such movements could weaken Nigeria’s democratic balance.

According to him, the country’s political diversity reflects its cultural and ethnic complexity, and leadership must encourage inclusion, unity and mutual respect among its different groups.

Dickson said the political system should allow multiple parties to thrive rather than concentrate power within a single dominant party.

Dickson explained that he chose the Nigeria Democratic Congress because its manifesto clearly reflects the issues he believes are critical to Nigeria’s development.

He said the party’s commitment to true federalism, devolution of power and greater investment in education, healthcare and security aligned with his political beliefs.

“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,” he said.

He added that any political platform he associates with must clearly outline its policy direction on key national issues.