Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a stringent anti-defection policy requiring all its candidates for elective positions to sign indemnity and affidavit forms committing to vacate their seats if they defect from the party after winning elections.
The policy was unveiled on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja and is expected to apply to all candidates contesting under the party’s platform, including its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other recent entrants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the signing ceremony attended by candidates and aspirants, NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, said the initiative was designed to safeguard the party’s electoral mandates and strengthen internal discipline.
According to Cleopas, the decision was prompted by recurring instances of politicians securing electoral victories on party platforms only to defect to rival political parties after assuming office.
He noted that the practice had undermined the trust of voters and weakened political parties, stressing that the new policy would ensure accountability and loyalty among elected officials.
“The mandate belongs to the party and the people who voted for our candidates. It is only fair that anyone who chooses to leave the party after benefiting from its platform should also relinquish the office secured through that platform,” Cleopas stated.
The NDC chairman described the policy as a bold step toward deepening democratic values, promoting political integrity, and discouraging opportunistic defections that have become common in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Party officials expressed confidence that the measure would strengthen cohesion within the NDC and reassure supporters of the party’s commitment to protecting the mandates entrusted to it by voters.
The development comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with defections and realignments already shaping the country’s evolving political landscape.
