Dickson’s Ally Defect to APC After Court Deregisters NDC

The political landscape in Bayelsa State shifted sharply this week as Hon. Fyneman Wilson, a trusted ally of Senator Seriake Dickson, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside his supporters.

Wilson, who served as Political Adviser to Dickson during his governorship, announced his resignation from the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC) on Monday. He described the NDC as a “sole proprietorship” lacking internal democracy and collective leadership.

The move followed last Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which ordered the NDC’s deregistration. The judgment triggered a wave of defections in Dickson’s Sagbama Local Government Area, particularly in his hometown of Toru-Orua.

At a reception held at the Golden Tulip, Government House, Onopa, Wilson formally joined the APC with his loyalists. The event drew prominent APC figures, including Deputy Governor Pastor Peter Akpe, former Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, and APC State Secretary Barr. Odoji Japan.

Over the weekend, several NDC members in Toru-Orua Ward 2 also crossed over to the APC. Among them were Comrade Victor Matthew, Mr. Noah Apeikumor, and Mrs. Monica Ebiowei, joined by youth and women leaders. They cited APC’s “progressive leadership and vision” as their reason for switching allegiance.

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The APC Publicity Secretary for Toru-Orua Ward 2, Comrade Arekedoumene Andrew, confirmed the defections in a statement. He noted that local leaders, including High Chief Mrs. Stella Ugolo, Hon. Odogu Akpolaemi, and Dr. Akpos Tounaregha, warmly received the defectors.

Wilson, speaking at the ceremony, said his decision was not personal but political, stressing that the NDC had become a “one-man show” with no clear direction. He added that his supporters wanted to align with a party that offered structure and inclusivity.

Reacting to the defections, NDC’s Bayelsa State Publicity Secretary, Prince Mac-Ake, dismissed the development as routine political realignment. He insisted that the NDC remained strong in Bayelsa, particularly in Toru-Orua, which he described as the “organic support base” of the party’s national leader.

Mac-Ake argued that defections are common during election seasons and claimed that the NDC was also receiving new members from the APC. He maintained that Dickson still enjoyed overwhelming support in his hometown, saying: “If 99 people stand with us and one crosses over, it is insignificant.”

The recent defections highlight the growing influence of the APC in Bayelsa State, especially in areas once considered strongholds of Dickson. With the deregistration of the NDC, political actors in the state are repositioning ahead of future contests, signaling a realignment that could reshape Bayelsa’s political map.