Senator Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and senator representing Bayelsa West, formally welcomed defectors from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Labour Party (LP) in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday. The defections, announced in Abuja, included the entire FCT leadership structure of the SDP—state chairman, FCT chairman, executives, and all local government and ward chairmen. Dickson described the mass defection as both symbolic and strategic, insisting it reflected a broader national political shift. "What you are seeing in the FCT is happening in other states. At the right time, Nigerians will know. This is not a regional movement; it is national," he 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," Dickson added.
Prominent Abuja politician Amanda Pam, formerly deputy national legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also defected to the NDC. She cited wide consultations with stakeholders as the basis for her decision. Pam, who served as Mandate Secretary for Health in the FCT, claimed she built several hospitals and rural health centres during her tenure. "If you give this party to us, you will be overwhelmed. Voters in Abuja know who they want," she said. Haruna Pai, NDC FCT leader, praised her as a strong grassroots mobiliser with deep political influence in the territory.
A mass defection rarely signals genuine ideological shift, and Dickson's latest haul—especially the complete collapse of SDP's FCT structure—smacks more of political convenience than conviction. Amanda Pam's high-profile entry, while theatrically received, does little to prove the NDC's national viability beyond momentary momentum. If this wave is built on individuals rather than institutions, it may swell fast but fade faster. For Nigerian voters weary of party-hopping, the real test comes at the ballot box, not the podium.
