By John Ovie
The integrity and sincerity of former governor of Bayelsa State and current member representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Seriake Dickson has again been brought under scrutiny following his official defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)
The former governor made the official defection to the NDC during a live radio broadcast in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Thursday, March 5th, 2026.
In what political watchers viewed as dearth of integrity and clearcut political ideology, Dickson’s defection from the PDP, a party he recently vowed to defend with his last drop of blood, only simulates the true nature of the average Nigerian politician.
When the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in October last year, Senator Dickson took the governor to the cleaners, asserting that there was no reason whatsoever for him to have left the party that gave him everything especially now that he is already serving his second term.
“They don’t know what is pushing them and they don’t know where they are running to,” Dickson fumed, referring to governor Diri’s move to the APC.
He even praised the late Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, describing him as a man of principle and good conscience for not joining his boss to decamp to the APC.
Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly shortly after Diri announced his defection to the APC, Dickson reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, insisting he had no plans to leave the opposition party. He said he remains “a soldier of democracy” committed to strengthening Nigeria’s multiparty system.
“I am where I have always been,” Dickson declared. “I don’t believe Nigeria should become a one-party state. As a democrat, I understand the ups and downs of politics, but I remain constant and steadfast in the PDP.”
Less than six months after he made that declaration to the whole world, Senator Seriake Dickson has eaten his own vomit, openly declaring his defection from the PDP, the same action he recently blamed governor Douye Diri for.
Dickson who is a party to the law suit defending the authenticity of the PDP national convention held in Oyo state last year, could not at least wait to see the outcome of the legal battle.
Political analysts say they expected the Senator to stick to his word and probably sink with the peoples democratic party to prove his integrity.
A social commentator, Mr. David West, while reacting to Dickson’s defection from the PDP said “you can only trust a Nigerian politician to your own peril. They don’t have integrity. They don’t have conscience.
“They will say one thing in the morning and say a different thing in the afternoon. I have always told Nigerians that they should not take the words of our politicians seriously.
“Dickson’s defection from the PDP is the height of political irresponsibility, lack of trust and a clare indication that Nigerian politicians should not be taken seriously.
“This is the same name who publicly lambasted governor, his successor, for leaving the PDP. Today, just few months later, he has done same thing he blamed Diri for.”
Political analysts also used Dickson’s defection from the PDP against his words to remind the former governor some of the promises he made to Bayelsans which he never fulfilled.
For instance, on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Dickson, while he held sway as governor of Bayelsa State, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bristow Helicopters for seaplane transportation in the state.
During the signing of the MOU at the Grand Pavilion and Boat Club, Oxbow Lake, in Yenagoa, Dickson noted that the seaplane transportation would provide affordable and quality services to the people of the state as well as to those outside the state.
He said his government commenced the seaplane transport to ease transportation for commuters both within and outside the state.
However, it is on record that the demonstration flight that landed on the Oxbow Lake on the day of signing the MoU was the first and the last seaplane sighted in the state until Dickson served out his tenure.
The analysts also reminded Senator Dickson that he promised to make Yenagoa the “Jerusalem of Africa” but left office, describing Yenagoa City as “forest capital”
