NDC Exempts Obi, Kwankwaso From Anti-Defection Oath

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath designed to discourage elected officials from leaving the party after securing electoral victories.

The National Secretary of the NDC, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed the development during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

Enekweizu defended the controversial policy, insisting that it was rooted in the party’s constitution and aimed at preserving the integrity and stability of the political platform.

According to him, every member of a political party is bound by the provisions of the party’s constitution and decisions taken by its duly constituted organs.

“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 dismissed concerns that the policy violates constitutional rights, arguing that membership of political parties remains voluntary and subject to the rules agreed upon by members.

Although the party’s constitution requires all candidates seeking elective office on its platform to sign the anti-defection oath, Enekweizu said the NDC leadership had taken an administrative decision to exclude Obi and Kwankwaso from the arrangement.

“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.

Enekweizu explained that the party’s main concern was not the presidency or governorship positions but lawmakers elected into the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

“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.

The NDC recently unveiled the anti-defection policy as part of efforts to prevent elected officials from abandoning the party shortly after winning elections.

Party leaders said the measure became necessary following repeated cases of defections that have weakened several political parties and undermined institutional development in Nigeria’s democratic system.