The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has clarified that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, will not be required to sign 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, where he defended the legality and intent of the policy.
Enekweizu explained that political parties operate as voluntary associations with internal rules backed by their constitutions, insisting that members are bound by those frameworks.
He noted that while the party’s constitution requires all candidates under its platform to sign the loyalty affidavit, the leadership has exercised administrative discretion to exempt its top 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,” he said.
According to him, the anti-defection policy is not directed at executive offices such as the presidency or governorship positions, but rather at lawmakers who often defect after being elected on a party’s platform.
“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 said the party introduced the measure to strengthen internal discipline and prevent elected officials from using the party as a temporary platform before switching allegiance after elections.
He stressed that the NDC is focused on building a stable political structure that reflects the will of voters and discourages post-election defections that undermine party integrity and public trust.
The party recently introduced the anti-defection policy requiring candidates to sign indemnity and affidavit documents committing to vacate their seats if they defect, a move it says is aimed at strengthening party loyalty and political accountability.