The Nigeria Democratic Congress has clarified that 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.

The party’s National Spokesman, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the legality of the policy and explained the category of candidates it was designed to affect.

According to Enekweizu, political parties operate as voluntary associations, and members who choose to run under their platforms are bound by the internal rules, regulations and constitutional provisions of such parties.

He dismissed criticisms that the oath violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, insisting that the requirement is supported by the NDC’s internal constitution.

Enekweizu, however, explained that the party leadership had taken an administrative decision to exempt its presidential candidate and vice-presidential candidate from the requirement.

“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,” he stated.

The spokesman said the anti-defection policy was not primarily targeted at executive positions such as governors or the president, but at legislative candidates who win elections on the party’s platform and later defect to rival political parties.

“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.

Enekweizu said the NDC was determined to build a stable and enduring political institution, adding that the party would not allow politicians to use its platform merely as a temporary route to public office.

According to him, the policy is intended to discourage elected officials from abandoning the party after benefiting from its structure, support and electoral platform.

The NDC recently introduced the anti-defection policy requiring candidates to sign indemnity and affidavit forms committing to vacate their seats if they defect after being elected on the party’s platform.

Party leaders say the measure is aimed at curbing the frequent defection of elected officials, which they argue weakens political parties, undermines voter confidence and distorts the mandate given by the electorate.

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