By Desmond Ogbonmwan
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has clarified why its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will not be required to sign the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath despite the policy applying to other candidates contesting under its platform.
The clarification comes amid growing discussions surrounding the party’s controversial anti-defection policy, which was recently unveiled as part of efforts to discourage elected officials from abandoning the party after securing public office.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the party’s National Spokesman, Ikenna Enekweizu, defended the policy and explained why the NDC leadership decided to exempt Obi and Kwankwaso from the requirement.
According to him, political parties are voluntary associations that operate under their own constitutions and internal regulations, making the anti-defection oath a legitimate party mechanism.
Enekweizu dismissed suggestions that the policy violates Nigeria’s constitution, insisting that candidates seeking elective office under the NDC platform are bound by the party’s internal rules and agreements.
However, he acknowledged that the party had exercised administrative discretion in the case of its presidential ticket.
“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,” Enekweizu stated.
The anti-defection policy requires candidates to sign indemnity forms and sworn affidavits committing themselves to vacate their seats if they defect to another political party after being elected.
Party leaders say the measure is intended to address one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s political system—frequent defections by elected officials.
Over the years, lawmakers elected under one political platform have often crossed over to rival parties after securing victory at the polls, a practice critics argue weakens party structures and undermines voter confidence.
The issue has become increasingly controversial in recent years as politicians regularly switch allegiances despite campaigning on the platforms of different political parties.
According to Enekweizu, the NDC’s primary concern is not with executive office holders such as governors or the president but with legislators who frequently move between parties after elections.
“Our main focus is not the governor; it’s not the president, it’s the national and state assembly members elected on the platform of our party,” he explained.
He argued that political parties cannot grow into stable institutions if elected officials continue to treat them merely as vehicles for securing power before moving elsewhere.
The spokesman added that the party is determined to build a long-term political institution capable of surviving beyond individual politicians and election cycles.
The exemption granted to Obi and Kwankwaso has nevertheless generated debate among political observers, with some questioning why the party’s most prominent candidates would not be subjected to the same requirement imposed on others.
Supporters of the decision argue that presidential and vice-presidential candidates occupy a unique position within the party and are unlikely to defect after winning office under the party’s banner.
Others believe the exemption could raise questions about consistency and equal application of party rules.
Despite the criticism, the NDC maintains that the policy remains necessary to strengthen party discipline and discourage the culture of political defections that has become common in Nigeria’s democratic system.
As preparations for future elections continue, the party says it remains committed to enforcing the policy among candidates it believes pose the greatest risk of abandoning the platform after securing electoral victories.
Related Stories
- Peter Obi Says Court Order Deregistering ADC and Other Political Parties Should Be Reversed
- Aisha Yesufu Rejected House of Reps Ticket, She Said She Was Too Big for It — Seriake Dickson
- No Reason for Nnamdi Kanu’s Imprisonment — Peter Obi
- Senate Denies Oshiomhole’s Claim of Forged Signatures in Natasha Suspension Report
- Oshiomhole Alleges Forged Signatures in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension Report
- Tinubu’s Enemies Sponsoring Insecurity to Discredit Democracy — Akpabio
- Deji Adeyanju Says No One Has VDM’s Influence in This Generation
- VeryDarkMan Leads Protest in Ibadan Over Abducted Students and Teachers
