Nigerians free to change parties –Dickson

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson has vowed to work against the proposed law criminalizing double registration by the House of Representatives. Addressing State Chairmen, members and other stakeholders of the Party, during the launching of the NDC Digital Membership Registration Portal in Abuja, the Senator said the amendment […]

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson has vowed to work against the proposed law criminalizing double registration by the House of Representatives.

Addressing State Chairmen, members and other stakeholders of the Party, during the launching of the NDC Digital Membership Registration Portal in Abuja, the Senator said the amendment was structured against the opposition.

Answering questions from Journalists, he said, adding “I know there are talks in the House of Representatives about criminalizing double registration, but that law has not been passed. I don’t think, I won’t support that legislation because it is meaningless.

“It’s all an orchestrated plan to intimidate opposition parties, particularly the newer ones and don’t forget the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees the right and freedom on the part of any Nigerian and every Nigerian to associate freely and disassociate freely too. So the fact that somebody is registered in a party on Monday does not mean the person cannot resign and join NDC on Tuesday, that is what actually I am inviting them to do. They may have registered at the time there was no NDC alternative.

“But now, NDC is the alternative. It has come. And they are resigning in advance. Not just in Bayelsa State and across so many states and they should continue to do so.

They shouldn’t be intimidated by any legislative chicanery. It is their constitutional right to freedom of association, to belong to any party of their choice.

“It is also their constitutional right to disassociate and resign from any party of their choice that they don’t want to be associated with and then come to NDC. That is a wonderful thing. And that is what we will see playing out. Mind you, apart from creating this portal, this portal will be filled by Nigerians on their own.

“So we are an alternative for those who want to leave any other party. They have a right to do so without requiring any tenancy under the law as far as the constitution and the law say so.”