Thd Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has clarified that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, will be exempted from signing the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath.
The party’s National Spokesman, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Defending the legality of the measure, Enekweizu emphasized that political parties function as voluntary associations, meaning members are legally bound by internal regulations and constitutional frameworks.
He dismissed criticisms that the oath violates Nigeria’s constitution, noting that the mandate to sign the loyalty affidavit is fully backed by the NDC’s internal constitution.However, Enekweizu explained that the party leadership opted to use administrative discretion to excuse its top two standard-bearers from the requirement.
“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.
According to the spokesman, the defensive policy does not target executive positions like governors or the president. Instead, it is aimed at legislative candidates who secure seats under the party’s umbrella only to defect to rival political movements shortly after taking office.
“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 added. Enekweizu stated that the NDC is committed to building a stable, long-lasting political institution, and the leadership will actively prevent politicians from exploiting the party platform as a temporary stepping stone to public office.
The NDC recently rolled out the anti-defection policy, requiring candidates to sign indemnity and affidavit forms committing to vacate their seats if they change parties, in an effort to curb the frequent defection of elected officials, which leaders argue undermines political organizations and erodes voter confidence.