Nigeria's NDC introduces anti-defection pact for candidates

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a stringent anti-defection policy, mandating all candidates for elective office to sign indemnity and affidavit forms. These documents legally bind them to vacate their seats should they defect from the party after securing an electoral victory. This new measure, unveiled at the party's national secretariat in Abuja, is set to impact high-profile members, including the party's presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso, as well as other recent entrants ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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In our last NEC meeting, a motion was moved, supported, and established that when we take over the government, people elected on the platform of our party must respect the party’s instrument.

During the signing ceremony, NDC National Chairman Moses Cleopas explained that the policy's primary objective is to safeguard the party's electoral mandates and reinforce internal discipline. He highlighted the recurring issue of politicians winning elections on one party's platform only to switch allegiance to rival parties after taking office. Cleopas stated that the decision was informed by past experiences where elected officials used their positions for personal ambition rather than serving the party's broader goals or the electorate.

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This is not just a party for one man to rise and achieve his ambitions and do anything he likes with the party.

Cleopas pointed to the Labour Party's experience following the 2023 elections as a critical justification for the NDC's new policy. He noted that numerous individuals who won elections under the Labour Party platform subsequently left the party. Cleopas questioned how the Labour Party's influence might have differed if these elected officials had remained loyal. He stressed that such trends necessitate proactive measures to guide and protect political parties, ensuring they are not merely vehicles for individual ambition but institutions capable of grooming future leaders.

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One thing we have come to observe is that in the present polity, when people contest elections and win under political parties, they become gods.

The NDC chairman emphasized that while party membership is voluntary, any individual seeking to contest elections under the NDC's banner must commit to adhering to its rules. The party aims to cultivate a sense of loyalty and commitment among its elected officials, preventing the opportunistic defections that have plagued Nigerian politics. This policy underscores the NDC's determination to foster stability and accountability within its ranks, ensuring that electoral victories translate into sustained party representation and commitment to its principles.

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A very typical example that we have all seen in the last three years is the Labour Party, where so many individuals won elections under the platform of the party.