Senator Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State and a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has defected to the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The announcement was made during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, in a move widely seen as one of the most significant political shifts ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The senator, who represents Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, arrived at the NDC national secretariat in Wuse II accompanied by supporters and several lawmakers from the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
Senator Dickson, a two-term governor of Bayelsa State, had been the subject of speculation for months amid rumours that he was considering leaving the PDP. His aides had previously dismissed the reports.
However, it was gathered that the tensions within the PDP and ongoing internal disputes may have contributed to the decision.
The NDC was formally registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February 2026, creating a new platform that some politicians see as an alternative ahead of the next election cycle.
At the event, Seriake Dickson was presented with his membership card by the party’s national chairman, Fredrick Owotorufa.
Sources within the party told Lagos Eye News that at least three other senators from Nigeria’s South-South region are in advanced discussions about joining the NDC in the coming days.
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