By Uzair Adam
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath aimed at preventing elected officials from leaving the party after securing victory at the polls.
The party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, where he defended the policy against allegations that it conflicts with constitutional provisions.
Enekweizu explained that the loyalty oath is backed by the NDC constitution and was introduced to protect the party from the growing trend of defections that has affected several political parties across the country.
He said members who voluntarily join the party are bound by its constitution and decisions made by its duly 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.
The NDC secretary rejected claims that the policy is unconstitutional, maintaining that members of voluntary organisations are obligated to abide by the rules governing such bodies.
Although the party’s constitution requires all candidates contesting on its platform to sign the oath, Enekweizu said the party had taken an administrative decision 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 measure is primarily targeted at lawmakers elected into the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly who often defect shortly after assuming 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.
The NDC recently unveiled the anti-defection policy as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s institutional stability. Party leaders said the frequent defection of elected officials from the platforms that sponsored their elections informed the decision.
Enekweizu stressed that the party was committed to building a sustainable political institution and would not allow politicians to use it merely as a platform for winning elections before moving elsewhere.
