Nigeria’s opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is introducing a strict anti-defection policy for its candidates. Multiple reports indicate that party leadership will require Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and other candidates to sign a pact or oath intended to bind them to the party’s mandate and discourage defections. The policy is presented as a way to ensure candidates remain aligned with the NDC if elected or if political circumstances change. Under the arrangement described by the outlets, the commitment is formal, requiring candidates to sign the party’s anti-defection document before proceeding as NDC candidates. While the reports focus on who is expected to sign—Obi, Kwankwaso and additional unnamed candidates—they also frame the action as part of the NDC’s wider internal measures to protect its political interests. Both accounts describe the requirement as an “anti-defection” pledge designed to deter candidates from switching allegiance after securing support under the party’s platform.