Hon. Michael Magbisa, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Special Duties, resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday and defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), bringing over 5,000 supporters with him. The move was confirmed by Senator Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the NDC, in a Facebook post announcing Magbisa's formal induction into the party by Bayelsa State Chairman Hon. Dauprebo Ikuromo and the State Executive Committee. Dickson described the defection as evidence of growing national confidence in the NDC, citing similar shifts in other states. He stated that the party is emerging as a major political force ahead of the 2027 general elections. Also joining the NDC are Dr. Sidi Abdul Bomi Gulu, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figure in Niger State, and Hon. Philip Johnson, a former governorship aspirant under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Taraba State, both of whom defected with their supporters. Delegations from Kogi, Niger, and Taraba states have also visited the party leadership to express alignment. Dickson revealed he held strategic meetings with NDC stakeholders, including National Vice Chairman (North-Central) Chief Barnabas Ejisi, who led a delegation following a consultative session. The NDC is currently running a membership registration drive, which Dickson said is gaining steady traction nationwide.
Senator Seriake Dickson is leveraging high-profile defections like that of Michael Magbisa to position the NDC as a viable alternative in Nigeria's fragmented political arena, using numbers and regional diversity as proof of momentum. The inclusion of figures from Bayelsa, Niger, Taraba, and Kogi — along with Dickson's emphasis on a "pan-Nigerian" base — suggests a deliberate attempt to build a coalition that transcends the usual geopolitical blocs, a rarity among newer parties. That Magbisa defected with 5,000 supporters, and others brought their own followings, indicates the NDC is attracting not just individuals but organized political structures, which could translate into grassroots campaign strength by 2027. While the APC and PDP remain dominant, the steady influx of defectors from multiple parties signals voter and elite dissatisfaction with the status quo — and an opening for a third force, if it can maintain cohesion and funding.
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