SUNTV Global Channel | Political Desk | June 18, 2026
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has exempted its presidential candidate, , and vice-presidential candidate, , from its newly introduced anti-defection oath, despite maintaining that candidates contesting on the party’s platform are generally required to sign the loyalty pledge.
The disclosure was made by the party’s National Secretary, , during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the controversial measure as a constitutional provision embedded in the party’s internal rules.
According to Enekweizu, the anti-defection oath was introduced to address the growing trend of elected officials abandoning the political parties that sponsored them into office, a practice that has contributed to instability within opposition parties and altered political dynamics across the country.
While the NDC constitution reportedly requires all candidates running on the party’s platform to sign the oath, Enekweizu said the party had taken an administrative decision to exclude both Obi and Kwankwaso from the requirement.
He explained that the party’s major concern is not the president or governors but lawmakers who often defect after securing electoral victories.
“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 NDC said the policy is designed to strengthen party loyalty and protect its institutional integrity, insisting that elected officials should not use the party merely as a vehicle to gain office before switching allegiance elsewhere.
Party leaders argue that frequent defections have weakened political parties in Nigeria and undermined democratic accountability, making stronger internal measures necessary.
However, the exemption granted to Obi and Kwankwaso is already generating debate among political observers, with questions being raised over whether top party leaders should be excluded from rules that apply to other candidates.
The NDC maintains that its focus remains on preventing defections among members of the National and State Assemblies, whom it considers the primary targets of the new policy.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor reactions and developments surrounding the controversial anti-defection policy.
