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 designed to discourage elected officials from abandoning the party after winning elections.
The party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed that while the anti-defection policy remains mandatory for candidates contesting legislative and executive positions on the party’s platform, an administrative decision was taken to exclude Obi and Kwankwaso from the requirement. He maintained that the policy is intended to protect the party from the wave of defections that have weakened many political organisations in recent years.
According to party officials, candidates seeking elective offices under the NDC are expected to sign indemnity and affidavit forms committing themselves to relinquish their positions if they defect from the party after securing victory at the polls. The measure was introduced as part of efforts to strengthen party discipline and loyalty ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exemption granted to Obi and Kwankwaso has, however, generated discussions within political circles, with critics questioning why the party’s highest-profile candidates were excluded from a policy being imposed on other aspirants. NDC leaders have defended the move, insisting it was an internal administrative decision and does not undermine the party’s commitment to enforcing discipline among its members.
The development comes days after the NDC unveiled the anti-defection framework as part of broader efforts to prevent a repeat of the political defections that have affected several opposition parties and altered the country’s political landscape in recent years.
