The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has clarified that its presidential candidate Peter Obi and vice presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso will not be required to sign the party’s newly introduced anti defection oath.
The party’s national spokesman, Ikenna Enekweizu, made the disclosure on Wednesday during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
Enekweizu defended the legality of the policy, stating that political parties are voluntary associations governed by internal rules and constitutional provisions.
He dismissed concerns that the oath violates the Nigerian Constitution, insisting that the requirement is fully supported by the party’s constitution.
According to him, the party leadership exercised administrative discretion to exempt its top two candidates from the requirement.
“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,” Enekweizu stated.
He explained that the policy is primarily aimed at elected lawmakers who often secure positions under the party before defecting to other political platforms after taking office.
“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.
Enekweizu further said the party is committed to building a stable political structure and preventing the misuse of its platform as a temporary pathway to public office.
Recalls that the party recently introduced the policy to address the rising trend of political defection among elected officials, which party leaders say undermines political stability and voter trust.
