Following the unprecedentedeasure taken to prevent defection of members after being elected at polls, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, will not be required to sign the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, defended the legality of the measure, noting that political parties function as voluntary associations and their members are strictly bound by internal rules and constitutional provisions.
He reminded critics of the oath that the requirement to sign the affidavit is fully backed by the NDC constitution, explaining that the party leadership voluntarily chose to exercise administrative discretion to excuse Obi and Kwankwaso from the mandate.
“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.
According to the National Secretary, the primary target of the defensive policy is not the executive branch, but rather lawmakers who secure seats under the party’s umbrella only to defect to rival political movements shortly after taking 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.
According to him, the NDC is committed to building a lasting, durable political institution, insisting that the party will actively prevent politicians from exploiting the platform merely as a temporary stepping stone to public office.
Recall, that the party a few days ago rolled out the policy to curb the rising trend of elected officials abandoning their sponsoring platforms as a way of ensuring the strengthening of the party.
