2027—The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath designed to prevent elected officials from abandoning the platform after securing electoral victories.
The disclosure was made on Wednesday by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the policy against allegations that it contravenes constitutional provisions.
Enekweizu explained that the requirement for candidates to sign an affidavit of loyalty is rooted in the party’s constitution and forms part of efforts to shield the NDC from the growing trend of political defections that have weakened several parties in recent years.
According to him, membership of a political party is voluntary, and members are bound by the provisions of the party’s constitution as well as decisions taken by its duly constituted authorities.
“First and foremost, a political party is like any other association, and every member who subscribes to the membership of the party is bound by the provisions of the constitution of the party and decisions taken by the party’s properly constituted authorities. Within NDC, the decision to make people sign that affidavit is provided for in our constitution,” he said.
The NDC scribe dismissed claims that the policy is unconstitutional, maintaining that members of voluntary organisations are legally obligated to comply with the rules governing such bodies.
While acknowledging that the party’s constitution requires all candidates seeking elective office on its platform to sign the oath, Enekweizu revealed that the party had exercised administrative discretion in exempting both Obi and Kwankwaso.
“The constitution says everybody running under the platform of the party has to sign, but the party has taken the administrative decision that those required to sign in this instance do not include the presidential candidate and his vice,” he stated.
The NDC recently unveiled the anti-defection measure as part of efforts to safeguard its institutional integrity. Party leaders argued that the frequent movement of elected officials from the platforms on which they won elections has undermined political parties and weakened democratic accountability.
Enekweizu stressed that the NDC is focused on building a durable political institution and would not allow politicians to use the party merely as a vehicle for electoral success before defecting to other platforms.
