NDC Excludes Obi, Kwankwaso From Mandatory Loyalty Affidavit, Insists Initiative Protects Party Integrity

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has cleared its presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, alongside his vice-presidential running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from subscribing to the political party's newly established anti-defection oath. The controversial loyalty policy is aimed at stopping elected officials from ditching the political platform after securing public office.

The party's position was made public on Wednesday by the National Secretary of the NDC, Ikenna Enekweizu, during a live television appearance on Channels Television’s current affairs program, Politics Today. During the broadcast, Enekweizu robustly defended the strategic measure against mounting public criticism that the requirement breaches Nigeria's grand norm.

According to the National Secretary, demanding that political candidates endorse a loyalty pledge is fully authorized by the internal constitutional rules of the NDC, serving as a protective mechanism against the pervasive culture of political crossing that has historically crippled and destabilized Nigerian political organizations.

"First and foremost, a political party operates just like any other voluntary association, meaning every single individual who chooses to subscribe to the membership of the party is legally bound by the explicit provisions of that party's constitution and the collective resolutions passed by its properly constituted leadership organs," Enekweizu argued. "Within the structure of the NDC, the directive compelling candidates to sign that legal affidavit is firmly rooted in our party's constitution."

He went on to dismiss public arguments labeling the loyalty affidavit as unconstitutional, explaining that individuals entering voluntary organizations are legally obligated to respect the rules guiding those bodies.

While reaffirming that the text of the party’s constitution technically mandates that all candidates seeking election under its flag must complete the anti-defection document, Enekweizu clarified that the leadership had taken a deliberate administrative decision to shield Obi and Kwankwaso from the process.

"The literal letters of our constitution dictate that everyone contesting on the party's platform must execute this oath. However, the party leadership has arrived at an administrative consensus that the individuals required to sign in this specific rollout do not include our presidential candidate and his running mate," he declared.

The party scribe further elaborated that the primary focus of the anti-defection architecture is not centered on top executive offices like the presidency or governorships. Instead, the initiative specifically targets national and state legislative candidates who routinely secure seats in parliament via the party's popularity and resource base, only to abandon the platform and cross the carpet to rival political factions shortly after inauguration.