Ex-Bayelsa Gov Set To Quit PDP

Former Governor of Bayelsa state Seriake Dickson is set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP after almost two decades as a member of Nigeria’s main opposition political party.
The former governor of the oil bearing state, on Wednesday, gave an indication that he was departing the PDP in a post he shared on his verified X handle.
“A Major Announcement is Coming!!! Tomorrow, Thursday, 5th March 2026, at 2:00 PM. I will be making an important statement at a Press Conference addressing the future of our people and our democracy,” Dickson wrote.
“Stay tuned. Be ready. Be part of the moment. #NDC #NigeriaPolitics #2027Elections.”
Since he made the announcement yesterday, speculations have been rife, among not a few Nigerians on which party he’s headed, and his next move concerning the politics of the state, as he’s widely regarded as the Kingmaker in the state.
The state current helmsman Douye Diri, the magazine recalls, rode on Dickson’s shoulder to become governor but the relationship between the two former allies broke down recent after the governor defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC from the PDP.
According to sources in the state, Dickson has come to the realisation that his major gaol of remaining the Kingmaker in the state could no longer be served in the PDP, due to the fact that the party has been embroiled in protracted leadership crisis for months, as two factions led by Tanimu Turaki, a former Minister and Samuel Anyanwu claim leadership.
Added to Senator Dickson’s quagmire was the recent death of the state Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who sources claimed has been penciled down to succeed Governor Diri.
“The death of the former Deputy Governor shattered Dickson’s succession plan, and he’s now doing everything to ensure that the state did not slip out of his finger, particularly after his former ally, Diri’s surprised defection to the ruling APC, a move that has changed the ‘succession calculation’ of the former governor,” a source said.
According to sources close to the former governor, his next political move is to ensure that the state remains under his firm control, now that the ruling party is trying to consolidate its position in the state by ensuring that it produced the next governor.
“It’s a very tough situation for him at the moment judging from the fact that he’s now in the opposing camp with the state governor, a former political mentee and ally. His next party will determine whether he’s still the overall leader in the state,” another sources said.
It’s not sure at the moment which particular party Dickson is headed but some analysts insist that the ruling APC is totally ruled out of the calculations.
This school of thought said the former governor is considering joining the coalition party, African Democratic Congress, ADC or the recently registered Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC. The NDC was among the two political parties recently registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“Many fingers in the state and beyond are crossed as the former governor is set to announce his defection today. His decision will definitely change the succession calculations in the state ahead the 2027 elections, and the next governorship election in 2028,” said a source.
Currently representing Bayelsa West in the Nigerian Senate, the former governor has been a member of the PDP for almost 20 years, under which he also served as a member of the House of representatives before he became governor in 2012.