Senator Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), formally welcomed defectors from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP) in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday in Abuja. The defections include the entire FCT leadership structure of the SDP, from the state chairman down to ward chairmen, all of whom Dickson confirmed have been fully integrated into the NDC. He described the move as symbolic and strategic, insisting it reflects a broader national shift rather than a regional trend. "What you are seeing in the FCT is happening in other states. At the right time, Nigerians will know," Dickson said. He emphasized the NDC's foundation on inclusivity, stating the party operates without ethnic, religious or regional bias. "Power is good, but it must be for service," he added.
Amanda Pam, former Deputy National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also defected to the NDC. She claimed to have built several hospitals and rural health centres in the FCT during her time as Mandate Secretary on Health. "We have consulted widely on the need to join the NDC, and many believe it offers the right direction," she said, expressing confidence in the party's chances in Abuja. Alhaji Haruna Pai, NDC FCT leader, praised Pam as a strong grassroots mobiliser with deep political roots in the territory.
A senator once synonymous with Bayelsa's political landscape is now positioning himself as a national broker by absorbing entire party structures into a relatively minor opposition platform. The collapse of the SDP's FCT leadership into the NDC, along with the addition of a known PDP figure like Amanda Pam, suggests organisational weakness in other parties more than it does strength in the NDC. If defections are being driven by access to platforms rather than ideology, voters may see less of a political realignment and more of a reshuffling of familiar faces. For Nigerians, this means promises of a "new Nigeria" may still hinge on old political calculations.
