Former Bayelsa State governor and senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The development was announced on Thursday as the senator confirmed his decision to move to the newly registered political party.
Dickson, who previously served as governor of Bayelsa State before his election to the Senate, has been a prominent figure within the PDP and one of the opposition voices in the National Assembly.
His departure comes amid ongoing political realignments within Nigeria’s opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC is among the new political parties recently registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party emerged after meeting registration requirements following a Federal High Court order, according to information disclosed during the commission’s consultative engagement with political parties earlier in 2026.
Before the formal announcement of his defection, Dickson had earlier informed the public that he would make what he described as a “major announcement” concerning the future of his political direction and the democratic process.
The statement was released ahead of a scheduled press conference where he addressed his political plans.
The senator had previously been associated with debates on electoral reforms and opposition politics within the National Assembly.
His move to the NDC introduces a new alignment in Bayelsa State politics, where party affiliations have shifted in recent months following political developments involving key office holders.
Political defections remain a recurring feature of Nigeria’s multiparty system, particularly in periods leading to general elections.
Changes in party affiliation by elected officials often influence political alignments at both state and national levels.
Dickson’s move from the PDP to the NDC adds to the ongoing shifts within opposition parties as political actors reposition ahead of the next electoral cycle.
