Dickson’s third term senate run sparks controversy

Senator Seriake Dickson’s dramatic exit from the Peoples Democratic Party and his emergence as a founding figure of the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress has triggered a sharp political backlash in Bayelsa State, with a civil society group accusing him of using the new party as a vehicle for personal electoral ambitions rather than genuine opposition politics.

Dickson, the former governor of Bayelsa State who has represented the Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly since 2023, announced his defection from the PDP during a press conference at his Abuja residence, describing the once-dominant opposition party as having deteriorated significantly. He was formally received into the NDC’s leadership, presented with the party’s flag, and issued membership card number “001”  signalling his status as a founding member.

He described the PDP as “sick and presently in the ICU,” accusing some of the party’s governors of weakening its structure by aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress, a move he said eroded the party’s credibility as a viable opposition platform. Dickson also framed the NDC as a necessary bulwark against what he described as a slide toward a one-party state. “Nigeria must never become a one-party state,” he declared.

But not everyone is convinced by the opposition credentials of the new venture. The convener of the South-South Reawakening Group, Joseph Ambakederimo, described the NDC as a “mission impossible” — alleging that its formation was driven by personal political interests rather than the broader welfare of the South-South region. Ambakederimo was blunt about what he believes is really at stake. “For those who may not understand what is at stake, what is really at stake is the Bayelsa West Senatorial seat and nothing more,” he said.

The group also raised concerns about the potential disruption the political manoeuvring could cause to Bayelsa’s governance. Ambakederimo urged Dickson to instead throw his weight behind the administration of Governor Douye Diri, noting that Dickson played a pivotal role in Diri’s emergence as governor. “Senator Dickson should be proud of the performance of Governor Douye Diri and support him. He brought him into office and should stand by him,” he said.

Ambakederimo also pointed to the Bayelsa West Senatorial District’s informal power-sharing arrangement between Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas — under which the two councils are expected to alternate the senatorial seat and the House of Representatives slot, warning that Dickson’s pursuit of a third term would upend that longstanding understanding. “You cannot benefit from such an arrangement and later attempt to destroy it,” he said.

For his part, Dickson pushed back against suggestions of narrow personal ambition. He dismissed speculation that the NDC was a platform for a presidential run against President Bola Tinubu in 2027, insisting the party’s focus was on building a credible national opposition structure. “Our focus right now is not about who will run for president. My colleagues and I are concentrating on building a credible political platform that Nigerians can identify with,” he said.

The NDC is one of two parties recently registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2027 general elections, bringing the total number of registered parties in Nigeria to 21. Dickson is currently the only serving senator on the NDC platform, and is expected to formally notify the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of his defection by letter.

The controversy reflects the widening fault lines within Bayelsa’s political establishment, as the 2027 electoral cycle draws closer and former allies recalibrate their positions.