NDC Exempts Peter Obi, Kwankwaso From Anti-defection Oath

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from its newly introduced anti-defection oath.

The policy was recently unveiled by the party to discourage elected officials from abandoning the NDC after winning elections on its platform.

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

Enekweizu said although the party’s constitution provides that candidates contesting on the NDC platform should sign the oath of loyalty, the party had taken an administrative decision to exclude its presidential and vice-presidential candidates from the arrangement.

The NDC secretary defended the anti-defection policy against criticisms that it violates constitutional provisions.

According to him, the oath is backed by the party’s constitution and is aimed at protecting the NDC from the wave of defections that have weakened several political parties in recent years.

He said members who voluntarily join a political party are bound by the party’s rules, constitution and decisions of its properly constituted authorities.

“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.

Enekweizu dismissed suggestions that the policy was unconstitutional, insisting that the NDC had the right to regulate the conduct of its members in line with its internal rules.

Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Excluded

While explaining the scope of the policy, Enekweizu said the party’s constitution makes signing the oath a requirement for candidates contesting elections on its platform.

He, however, noted that the party had resolved not to apply the requirement to Obi and Kwankwaso in the present instance.

“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.

His clarification comes amid public reactions to the policy and questions over whether it would apply to all candidates, including the party’s presidential ticket.

Lawmakers Main target

Enekweizu said the party’s major concern was with candidates elected into legislative offices who often defect after securing their seats.

According to him, the NDC is particularly focused on National Assembly and state House of Assembly members elected on its 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 said.

He explained that the party was determined to prevent a situation where politicians use the NDC as a platform to win elections and later abandon it for another party.

The NDC had earlier said the anti-defection oath was introduced to protect the party’s institutional integrity and strengthen internal discipline ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Party leaders had cited repeated cases of elected officials dumping the parties on whose platforms they won elections as a major reason for the decision.

Enekweizu said the NDC was committed to building a lasting political institution and would not allow politicians to treat the party merely as an electoral vehicle.

He maintained that the policy was designed to protect the mandate of the party and ensure that elected officials remain accountable to the platform that sponsored them.