The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a new anti-defection policy requiring candidates seeking elective offices on its platform to sign legal documents committing to vacate their positions if they leave the party after winning elections.
The development was disclosed during a ceremony held at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, where party officials unveiled indemnity and affidavit forms for aspirants and candidates ahead of future elections.
According to the National Chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, the policy will apply to candidates contesting presidential, governorship, National Assembly and other elective positions under the NDC platform.
Cleopas said the decision was aimed at strengthening party discipline and preventing situations where politicians secure electoral victories on a party platform and later defect to another political party.
“In our last NEC meeting, a motion was moved, supported and adopted, establishing that when we take over government, people elected on the platform of our party must respect the party’s instrument,” he said.
The chairman stated that the party was determined to protect its electoral mandates and preserve what he described as the principle of party supremacy.
“One thing we have come to observe is that in the present polity, when people contest elections and win under political parties, they become gods. And within the period they ought to serve, they will, on one minor excuse, dump the platform and perhaps move to the ruling party,” he added.
Cleopas cited experiences from previous election cycles, noting that some opposition parties lost several elected members after elections despite securing victories on their platforms.
“A very typical example that we have all seen in the last three years is the Labour Party, where so many individuals won elections under the platform of the party. Now, we are in another election cycle. Go and check their history. How many of the people who won elections under the Labour Party and were inaugurated are still members of the party?” he said.
He stressed that membership of the party remains voluntary but insisted that anyone seeking elective office under the NDC must agree to abide by its internal regulations.
“If you want to contest an election under the platform of the NDC, you are free to come. Nobody is forcing you. But when you come, you should know that there are certain rules by which we, as a political party, guide our members,” Cleopas stated.
Also speaking, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, defended the policy, arguing that political parties operate as voluntary associations governed by rules accepted by members.
“A political party is just like a club, church or mosque where there are rules and regulations. That is why the 1999 Constitution, under Section 222, states that a candidate of a political party is merely an agent of the party,” he said.
He maintained that electoral mandates belong to political parties rather than individual candidates.
“So, if you are privileged to win an election after clinching the party ticket, that does not mean the mandate belongs to you,” Egwuaba added.
The party said the affidavit and indemnity forms are intended to reinforce loyalty to the platform and ensure that elected officials remain committed to the party throughout their tenure.
NDC introduces anti-defection oath, candidates risk losing seats for dumping party
