Former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current state of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that it is inaccurate to say he and others are leaving the party. Instead, he argued, the party itself has drifted away from its founding ideals.
Dickson made the remarks during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, where he reflected on the transformation of the once-dominant political platform.
“Where we are now, it is not fair to say that I and others who are leaving now have left the PDP. It will be more appropriate to say that the PDP left me. PDP left us,” he said.
The former governor described the situation as deeply troubling, noting that the party Nigerians once trusted with power has, in his view, lost its identity and cohesion. According to him, the PDP that existed in the early 2000s—when he joined its ranks—has effectively disappeared.
“It is very sad that before our very eyes our trusted and loved platform evaporated. That is different from leaving,” Dickson added.
He recounted his political journey, explaining that he joined the PDP after leaving the Alliance for Democracy, where he had served as National Legal Adviser. Over time, he became a prominent figure within the PDP, contributing to its growth and national influence.
However, Dickson argued that the party’s current structure and operations no longer reflect the values that once made it appealing to Nigerians. “The PDP as I knew it… has since been killed and buried,” he said, adding that what remains cannot be compared to the party that once commanded widespread support.
Reflecting on its past achievements, Dickson highlighted the PDP’s history of electoral success, noting that it produced three consecutive presidents. He cited the administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, who governed for eight years and helped stabilize Nigeria’s democracy, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, whose tenure was cut short by his death, and Goodluck Jonathan, who completed Yar’Adua’s term and later secured his own electoral mandate in 2011.
“That was the PDP that was attractive,” Dickson concluded, underscoring his belief that the party has significantly deviated from its former strength and credibility.
His comments add to growing concerns within political circles about the future direction of the PDP as it navigates internal challenges and shifting alliances ahead of upcoming elections.
