NDC Leadership Coerces Candidates with Controversial Affidavits

Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), a member of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), and the party's leadership are accused of coercing candidates to sign controversial affidavits as a condition for retaining their candidacy in the party's primaries. Sources within the party revealed that candidates who refused to sign the affidavits faced threats of replacement if they did not win the primaries.

The affidavits are described as a political tool to enforce absolute loyalty to the party leadership and prevent elected officials from defecting to other political parties. The documents require candidates to swear an oath in either a federal or state high court, committing to remain loyal to the NDC throughout their tenure.

The affidavits also contain provisions that mandate resignation from office if a candidate defects from the party during their term. Furthermore, the affidavits stipulate that any defecting official would bear the legal and administrative costs incurred by the party in enforcing the resignation.