NDC Tightens Rules, Introduces Anti-Defection Oath for Candidates

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a mandatory anti-defection oath for its governorship and National Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections as part of efforts to stem the tide of post-election defections and strengthen party discipline.

Under the new arrangement, aspirants seeking elective office on the party’s platform will be required to sign indemnity and affidavit documents affirming their commitment to remain with the NDC throughout their tenure if elected.

The party said the measure was aimed at protecting electoral mandates secured under its banner and preventing elected officials from abandoning the platform that sponsored them after winning elections.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Moses Cleopas, said the policy emerged from concerns over the growing trend of political defections, which he described as a threat to the development of strong democratic institutions.

According to him, the party was determined to establish mechanisms that would promote loyalty, accountability and institutional stability.

“We are putting this in black and white. Once you take the ticket, you are bound by it. If you leave, you leave with the seat,” Cleopas said.

He argued that elected officials should not retain mandates won on the platform of a political party after voluntarily defecting to another party.

“The mandate belongs to the party and the people who voted through that platform. If you leave the party after winning, you cannot continue to hold the seat,” he added.

The NDC chairman said the decision was informed by repeated cases of politicians who secured electoral victories on one platform only to switch allegiance after assuming office.

He noted that such developments have affected several political parties and have contributed to weakening public confidence in the country’s democratic process.

Referencing recent political realignments, Cleopas said the party was determined to avoid a situation where elected representatives abandon the platform that facilitated their emergence.

He maintained that unlike many political organisations established primarily for electoral contests, the NDC was conceived as a long-term institution built on enduring values, discipline and ideological consistency.

According to him, extensive studies of successful political parties around the world influenced the decision to adopt safeguards capable of ensuring continuity and organisational stability.

The chairman disclosed that every elected official produced by the party would be expected to remain loyal to the NDC throughout the duration of the mandate or forfeit the office secured through the party.

He insisted that party tickets belong to political parties rather than individual candidates and that elected officials cannot separate themselves from the platform that sponsored their election.

Providing details of the legal framework backing the policy, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, said all aspirants would be required to swear an affidavit before a competent court before their nomination could be processed.

He explained that the affidavit would form part of the documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and would serve as a binding legal undertaking.

According to Egwuaba, the party’s position is that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of association, including the right to join or leave a political party, such rights do not automatically transfer ownership of an electoral mandate from the sponsoring party to an elected official.

He argued that court decisions have consistently recognised the pivotal role political parties play in the electoral process since candidates emerge through party structures.

The legal adviser added that relevant provisions of the NDC constitution clearly establish that elected officials remain tied to the platform through which they obtained office.

“Without this affidavit, your name will not even be uploaded to the INEC portal. It is a strict requirement,” he said.

Egwuaba noted that the policy was intended to close loopholes that have allowed post-election defections to occur without consequences, while reinforcing party cohesion and accountability.

The NDC said the new requirement forms part of broader efforts to build a stronger political institution capable of retaining its elected officials and preserving the confidence of voters ahead of the 2027 elections.