Obi, Kwankwaso not required to sign anti-defection oath — NDC

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the party’s newly introduced anti-defection oath aimed at preventing elected officials from dumping the party after winning elections.

The party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the policy and insisted it was backed by the party’s constitution.

According to him, while the NDC constitution requires candidates contesting on its platform to sign the oath of loyalty, the party has taken an administrative decision to exclude Obi and Kwankwaso from the arrangement.

Enekweizu explained that the policy is primarily targeted at lawmakers elected into the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, who often defect shortly after securing office.

He said the NDC introduced the measure to protect its institutional integrity and prevent politicians from using the party as a vehicle to win elections before moving elsewhere.

The party recently unveiled the anti-defection policy, requiring candidates to sign affidavits committing to surrender their mandates if they leave the party after winning elections. However, the latest clarification confirms that the presidential ticket will not be subjected to the oath requirement.