NDC’s Anti-Defection Pact Is Focused On Loyalty Before 2027

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) announced a new anti-defection policy in which all its candidates for elections must sign indemnity and affidavit forms. The goal of the policy is to ensure that once elected, any elected officer must forfeit his seat should he choose to defect from the party.

A decisive step to stem political defections
The NDC chairman, Moses Cleopas, said this at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja while explaining the policy, noting that it’s one step to safeguard the party’s mandate, a bid to check party indiscipline. He stated that defections have made opposition parties weaker and ” Nigerians do not trust their politicians.”

According to him, he had seen cases like that of the Labour party where a lot of elected officials of the party abandoned the platform after the 2023 general elections. Cleopas also noted that the party will not permit the use of the party platform as a launch pad and “come back later when it’s time to campaign.”

Binding promises from candidates
Candidates seeking election under the NDC are required to sign an affidavit and an indemnity form. Both forms are meant to legally bind the elected official to abandon his post once he defects from the party. Cleopas emphasized that membership into the party is voluntarily, but members who aspire to contest under the platform of the NDC, have the binding obligation to adhere to the party’s terms and conditions.

“If you win, the mandate belongs to the party. If you otherwise choose to leave, go the same way you came and leave what you picked from here”, he added.

ALSO READ

INEC’s Legal Battle Over Deregistration Sparks Debate

Kwara ADC Rejects Deregistration, Condemns Judgment

Legal explanation
The legal advisor to the NDC, Reuben Egwuaba who clarified that the section used for this is section 222 of the 1999 Constitution, said the elected official is an agent to the party and that mandate belongs to the party till the tenure of the elected officer ends. According to him, “party membership is the act of belonging to a voluntary organization, where every member agrees with certain internal rules and procedures that are binding”.

In view of these constitutional explanations and the fact that opportunistic defection destabilizes the polity, it is not unlawful.

Effects of this pact on notable politicians
High profile party members like presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other recent additions to the party are expected to be significantly affected by this pact, as both are known to have a history of political defection in the past. Aisha Binani, a former governorship candidate in Adamawa, is one of the recent members to join the party; she and other prominent members of the party will be expected to sign.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress party’s anti-defection policy is also being looked at in view of how it would affect elections scheduled for 2027.

Nigeria’s political landscape of defection is being reshaped by the new pact which positions the party as one that values its mandate and loyalty from its candidates. It will be interesting to see how candidates react to the demands of this pact. Only time will tell whether this policy would be constitutionally permissible; but the party clearly demands loyalty in return for its support.