Former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a newly registered political party.
Dickson announced the decision on Thursday while addressing journalists, supporters, political associates, and stakeholders at his residence in Abuja.
According to the former governor, his move followed months of consultations and deep reflection on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the internal challenges currently facing the PDP.
Describing himself as a man of conviction, Dickson said the decision was taken after extensive discussions with political allies and stakeholders across the country.
He also welcomed the registration of the NDC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as a victory for constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
The senator explained that the party’s promoters had earlier gone to court after their initial attempt to register the political association was unsuccessful.
According to him, the Federal High Court ruled in favour of the group, affirming that denying the association registration violated the constitutional right of citizens to freedom of association.
“We went to court because we believed our constitutional right to freedom of association had been breached. The court listened to all arguments and delivered judgment in our favour, affirming that citizens have the right to freely associate and participate in the political process,” Dickson said.
He commended the Nigerian judiciary for what he described as its impartial role in upholding the constitution and also appreciated INEC for complying with the court’s judgment.
Dickson added that the emergence of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) would help strengthen Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system and provide a credible platform for political participation
