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 discouraging elected officials from abandoning the platform 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.

He dismissed suggestions that the policy was unconstitutional, arguing that members of voluntary associations are legally bound by the rules governing such organisations.

While affirming that the party’s constitution requires all candidates contesting on its platform to sign the oath, Enekweizu said the NDC had taken an administrative decision to exclude Obi and Kwankwaso from the arrangement.

“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.

Enekweizu explained that the party’s primary concern is with lawmakers elected into the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly who often defect shortly after securing 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 said.

The NDC recently unveiled the anti-defection measure, saying it was designed to protect the party’s institutional integrity. The party’s leadership cited the defection of elected officials from the platforms on which they won elections as a major factor behind the decision.

Enekweizu said the NDC was determined to build a lasting political institution and would not allow politicians to treat the party merely as a vehicle for winning elections before moving elsewhere.