Why Obi, Kwankwaso won’t sign NDC’s defection oath

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has explained that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, will not be required to sign the party’s recently introduced anti-defection oath, despite a constitutional provision mandating candidates to do so.

The clarification was made by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

Enekweizu defended the controversial policy, insisting that it is rooted in the party’s constitution and designed to protect the organisation from the growing trend of elected officials abandoning the parties that sponsored their elections.

“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 rejected claims that the requirement conflicts with the Constitution, arguing that individuals who voluntarily join associations are expected to abide by their internal rules and regulations.

Although the party’s constitution stipulates that all candidates seeking elective office on its platform must sign the oath, Enekweizu disclosed that the leadership had exercised its discretion to exempt Obi and Kwankwaso.

“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.

According to him, the policy is primarily aimed at legislators who secure election victories on the party’s platform only to switch allegiance shortly afterwards.

“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.

The NDC recently unveiled the anti-defection measure as part of efforts to strengthen party discipline and preserve its political identity. Party leaders maintain that repeated defections by elected officials have weakened political organisations across the country and undermined voter confidence.

Enekweizu stressed that the party intends to build a durable political institution and would resist any attempt by politicians to use the platform solely as a stepping stone to public office before moving to rival parties.