Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, have been exempted from the party’s anti-defection oath.
The oath seeks to discourage elected officials from dumping the NDC after winning elections.
The National Secretary of the party, Ikenna Enekweizu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the policy against criticisms that it violates constitutional provisions.
According to Enekweizu, the requirement for candidates to sign an oath of loyalty is backed by the party’s constitution and is intended to safeguard the NDC from the wave of defections that have weakened several political parties in recent years.
“First and foremost, a political party is like any other association, and every member who subscribes to the membership of the party is bound by the provisions of the constitution of the party and decisions taken by the party’s properly constituted authorities. Within NDC, the decision to make people sign that affidavit is provided for in our constitution,” he said.
