The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from its newly introduced anti-defection oath, despite making the policy mandatory for candidates contesting on the party’s platform.
The party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed the decision on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the controversial measure as a legitimate tool to protect the party from post-election defections.
According to Enekweizu, the oath of loyalty is backed by the NDC constitution and forms part of efforts to strengthen party discipline and prevent elected officials from abandoning the platform after securing victory at the polls.
“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.
He rejected claims that the policy violates constitutional rights, maintaining that members of voluntary organisations are expected to abide by the rules and regulations governing such bodies.
While acknowledging that the party’s constitution requires all candidates seeking elective positions on its platform to sign the oath, Enekweizu said the NDC had exercised its administrative discretion to exclude Obi and Kwankwaso 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,” he stated.
He explained that the party’s major concern is the growing trend of lawmakers elected into the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly defecting to rival parties shortly after winning 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 said.
The NDC recently unveiled the anti-defection policy as part of broader efforts to safeguard its institutional integrity and build a stable political structure. Party leaders argued that frequent defections have weakened several political parties and undermined democratic accountability.
Enekweizu stressed that the NDC is determined to build a lasting political institution and will not allow politicians to use the party merely as a vehicle for electoral success before moving to other platforms.
