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Anti-defection affidavits and indemnity forms: NDC members protest
There is disquiet within the fold of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the decision of the national leadership of the party to mandate its prospective candidates for elective offices to sign the anti-defection affidavits and indemnity forms.
The members, according to a source, described the decision as ‘autocratic’.
The aggrieved members advised the party to be cautious in handling the matter, saying the move, if not properly handled, could lead to “the party’s early disintegration.”
According to aggrieved members, the party should channel their energy into massive grassroots mobilisation of membership in order to ensure that its presence would be felt across the political wards in the country ahead of 2027.
The aggrieved members believe that the country’s constitution had already taken care of the defection of candidates to other political parties and described the actions of the party leadership as a duplication of duties.
They, however, blamed the leadership of the National Assembly, party leaders and the judiciary for fueling what they described as “defection rascality” among candidates of political parties and the majority of political party members.
“The constitution had already taken care of what happens to candidates who defect from one political party to another.
“We saw the drama that played out at the National Assembly where members cross carpet to other parties, especially the ruling party, without any consequence.
“We saw what happened when parties went to court to challenge the defection of members of political parties to another party.
“How many of them lost their seats, even when there is no serious crisis in the party that could have warranted their defection.
“In all honesty, we (members of the NDC) are beneficiaries of cross-carpeting. We were all members of a political party before joining the NDC.
“The constitution guarantees freedom of association to Nigerians, which includes movement from one political party to another.
“Personally, if they try to coerce people to sign anti-defection affidavits and indemnity forms, the same persons can cause a crisis in the party in order to still have their way.
“For me, we should be talking about strengthening our institutions, especially the judiciary, so as to give the people the opportunity to seek justice or redress if they feel that members left the party without any known crisis in the party.
“So, forcing them to sign anti-defection affidavits and indemnity forms will make no meaning and will not stop people from defecting to another party,” a member of the party posited.