The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Seriake Dickson, has called for war against terrorists masquerading as politicians.
Dickson made the call in a post on his verified X handle late Tuesday after he received the joint team of the International Republican Institute, IRI, and the National Democratic Institute, NDI, two prominent US-based organisations that support democracy around the world.
He said there must be consequences for terrorist-politicians, adding that there should be international collaboration to name, shame and sanction such persons.
According to the former Bayelsa State governor, he knows what desperate and criminally minded individuals masquerading as political leaders within the ruling establishment can do from time to time.
He added that instead of mobilising genuine political support, some of them resort to buying arms, training individuals, recruiting armed thugs and colluding with security personnel to maim and kill.
The Bayelsa senator lamented that, for some politicians, the act had become a recurring pattern during election seasons.
He also decried the fact that some of the individuals continued to receive government patronage, adding that some had become ministers, while others were candidates for elections.
“Terrorists masquerading as politicians must be treated as terrorists. There should be no mercy for them. In the NDC, we are determined to ensure that Nigerians are able to vote freely and that their votes count.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the security agencies and all relevant institutions must ensure that citizens are enabled to exercise their democratic rights without fear, intimidation or violence.
“Nigeria’s democracy must be protected, and every Nigerian must have the confidence that their vote matters,” he tweeted.
2027: ‘No mercy for terrorist-politicians’ – Seriake Dickson