The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will not be required to sign the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath.
The disclosure was made by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, who explained that although the NDC constitution mandates all candidates seeking elective office on the party’s platform to sign the oath, the party leadership had decided to exempt the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
According to Enekweizu, the anti-defection measure was introduced to address the growing trend of elected officials abandoning the party after securing electoral victories. He noted that the policy is primarily targeted at members of the National Assembly and state legislatures elected under the party’s platform.
He said the move is aimed at protecting the party’s structure and ensuring that elected representatives remain loyal to the party that sponsored their elections.
The NDC secretary added that the party remains committed to building a stable political institution founded on discipline, loyalty, and long-term cohesion, while discouraging the practice of post-election defections that have become common in Nigeria’s political landscape.
