Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West and former Governor of Bayelsa State, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Dickson made the announcement on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, citing “irreconcilable differences” within the PDP as the primary reason for his defection.

The senator described the NDC, recently registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as a credible opposition platform capable of fostering a stronger, more inclusive political landscape in Nigeria. He encouraged Nigerians to support the new party by registering as members.

“Last week, INEC issued a certificate of registration, and we now have the newest party in Nigeria, known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with our symbol being the victory sign. Nigerians now have a credible alternative opposition party,” Dickson said. “While we would have preferred an earlier start, we do not control INEC’s processes or the judiciary, but we are grateful that it has finally arrived.”

Reflecting on his political journey, Dickson emphasized his long-standing commitment to opposition politics, recalling his participation in multiple opposition parties in the past. He stressed that Nigeria, with its cultural, religious, and political diversity, cannot thrive as a one-party state.

“This nation cannot be a one-party state. We build political parties and engage in political movements to access power for the good of the people, not for personal gain,” he said.

Last month, INEC announced the registration of two new political parties, the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), increasing the total number of registered parties in Nigeria to 21. The announcement was made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political stakeholders for 2026 — the first such meeting since Prof. Amupitan assumed office in October 2025.

According to the INEC chairman, the DLA completed a rigorous verification process, while the registration of the NDC followed a Federal High Court order.