NDC exempts Obi, Kwankwaso from party’s anti-defection oath

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has made an administrative decision to exempt its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from signing a newly introduced anti-defection oath. This oath is a mandatory requirement for party candidates seeking office.

According to the party's National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, the anti-defection oath is enshrined in the NDC's constitution. He explained that political parties function as voluntary associations, and members are expected to adhere to the rules and decisions made by legitimate party structures. The oath is designed to discourage elected officials from leaving the party after securing electoral victories.

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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.

Enekweizu clarified that while the constitution mandates all candidates to sign the affidavit, the party leadership opted to exclude the presidential and vice-presidential candidates from this specific 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 during a Channels Television interview.

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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.

The primary focus of this anti-defection measure, Enekweizu emphasized, is on members of the national and state assemblies, rather than the president or governors. The policy aims to protect the party's organizational integrity and prevent elected officials from using the party solely as a platform for election before switching allegiances.

Political defections have been a persistent issue in Nigeria's democratic landscape, often leading to instability within parties and weakening opposition platforms. The NDC's move reflects an effort to foster greater loyalty and long-term cohesion within its ranks, though the exemption for its top candidates highlights a pragmatic approach to electoral strategy.

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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.