Mass Movement to NDC: Bayelsa Politics Heating Up. By Chris Mark 

Mass Movement to NDC: Bayelsa Politics Heating Up.

By Chris Mark 

It’s barely a week since the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as a political party in Nigeria.

Despite emerging recently the party is
seeing a mass movement of people especially Bayelsians from other parties to the NDC.

With the registration of the party, political analysts had predicted a likely shake-up in the political landscape of the country, especially in Bayelsa State, where the party has its stronghold.

A few days ago, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, and other state political bigwigs defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the NDC, indicating the party’s readiness to contend with others in the state.

At a town hall meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, members from all eight LGAs pledged unalloyed support for the party and its leadership.

While speaking to newsmen, one of the party’s stakeholders, Hon Romeo Richman, says a political tsunami is about to happen in the state where there will be a mass defection of people from other parties to the NDC.

According to him, victory is sure for the party in Bayelsa State with Senator Seriake Dickson, former Governor and current Senator for Sagbama/Ekeremor, at the helm.

He said with the former Governor’s defection, most Bayelsians are happy; there was widespread jubilation even in the ruling party, APC’s, state camp.

Ahead of 2027, the party faithful said he’s sure many Bayelsians will support the party, saying they don’t want APC – a failed party – leading the “Jerusalem of Ijaw land”.

He imagined that if within one week of registration the party’s membership has grown to over two million, he wondered what’ll happen in the coming weeks and months with mass defections.

The politician said PDP was their party, but due to internal crisis, they’ve joined NDC – not APC, which hasn’t done well.

He stated his aim isn’t to seek positions, but to see NDC succeed.

In his remarks, party Secretary Hon Alex Dumbo said he’s not perplexed by the crowd because he knows the party leader is loved, “The doors are open for more,” he added.

Dumbo, a former Deputy Chief of Staff in the Deputy Governor’s Office, said the party’s one-week online registration has hit over two million and manual registration starts soon.

He said the gathering shows unity and progress, cutting across languages, ethnicity, and LGAs, Notting that NDC will succeed in Bayelsa.

He said, “Members of Labour Party, PDP, ADC – they’ve chosen NDC. We’ll welcome them.”