The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially exempted its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath.
The policy, unveiled at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, requires other candidates contesting elective positions on the NDC platform including governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly aspirants to sign indemnity and affidavit forms. These commit them to vacate their seats if they defect to another party after winning elections in 2027.
Party Spokesman Mr. Enekweizu explained that while the NDC constitution mandates all candidates to sign the loyalty pledge, the leadership has exercised its administrative discretion to exclude the presidential ticket.
“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.
The anti-defection measure aims to promote party loyalty and prevent the cross-carpeting that has historically weakened political platforms in Nigeria, particularly after elections. It targets lawmakers and other elected officials to safeguard the party’s mandate and strengthen internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This exemption for Obi and Kwankwaso, who recently joined the NDC and were affirmed as the party’s presidential ticket, underscores the leadership’s full confidence in the duo at the top of the ticket.