The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from a newly introduced anti-defection oath, despite maintaining that candidates seeking elective office on the party’s platform are generally required to sign the pledge.
The party’s National Spokesman, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed the exemption on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Enekweizu defended the policy, arguing that political parties are voluntary organisations governed by their constitutions and internal regulations. He dismissed suggestions that the oath conflicts with constitutional provisions, insisting that the requirement is backed by the NDC’s governing documents.
According to him, the party exercised its discretion in excluding Obi and Kwankwaso from the obligation, even though the constitution provides that candidates contesting on the party’s platform should sign the affidavit.
“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.
He explained that the measure is primarily aimed at curbing defections among elected lawmakers, whom he accused of abandoning the party after securing electoral victories on its platform.
“Our main focus is not the governor; it’s not the president. It is members of the National Assembly and state assemblies elected on the platform of our party,” Enekweizu stated.
He added that the NDC is determined to build a stable political institution and would not allow politicians to use the party merely as a vehicle to gain elective office before moving elsewhere.
The anti-defection oath was recently unveiled by the party as part of efforts to strengthen internal discipline and protect its political structure from frequent defections.
The party has said that the growing trend of elected officials switching allegiance after elections has weakened political institutions, stressing that the NDC intends to build a platform anchored on loyalty, accountability, and long-term commitment.
