The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says its presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso will not sign the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath. NDC national spokesman Ikenna Enekweizu made the disclosure on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Wednesday. He argued that, although the NDC’s constitution requires candidates contesting on the party’s platform to sign the oath, the leadership has taken an administrative decision to exclude Obi and Kwankwaso from doing so.
Enekweizu also defended the policy’s legality and said the oath is backed by the party’s own constitutional provisions. He framed the anti-defection measure as targeting lawmakers at the national and state assembly levels, rather than top elected executives such as presidents or governors. The party’s stated aim is to strengthen internal discipline and reduce the use of the party as a temporary platform, with the intention of preventing post-election defections that undermine political structures and public trust.
Multiple outlets report that the NDC’s anti-defection requirements include indemnity and affidavit forms committing signatories to vacate seats if they leave the party after winning elections.
