2027: Why We Asked Party Candidates To Sign Anti-defection Affidavits – NDC

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has defended the party’s decision to make all candidates vying for elective offices on its platform sign indemnity and affidavit forms before they get the party’s ticket.

The NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, who shared the statement on Wednesday, said the move was to curb decamping and political prostitution.

Recall that the NDC policy unveiled on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja provided that any candidate elected on its platform must vacate his or her seat if he or she defects to another political party before the expiration of his or her tenure.

At the signing ceremony attended by some candidates and aspirants, National Chairman of the NDC, Moses Cleopas, said the decision was taken to protect the party’s electoral mandate and strengthen internal discipline.

“The party can no longer ignore the recurring trend of politicians winning elections on the platform of political parties only to abandon the same parties after securing office,” Cleopas said.

The new policy was approved at the meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee as part of measures to prevent elected officials from treating party mandates as personal property, he said.

In defence of the outrage that has greeted the party’s decision in some quarters, Agada explained that the move is supported by the Nigerian constitution.

He also said it has historical backing and while individuals are free to leave the party if they wish, they must vacate their seats before doing so.

The full statement read: “The NDC Anti-Decamping Initiative is a party backed innovation to stem decamping and political prostitution.

“People can leave the party if they wish, but they have to give up their seats. This position is in full conformity with the provisions of Nigerian Constitution.

There is no issue in cases of split in the party as defined by the Constitution, members affected are free to exit with constitutional protection. “But if an elected official walks away for personal convenience to get a better deal with another party, then they can do that, but they must give up the mandate.

The official has the right to leave the party but cannot take the mandate with him. They would have to fight on a new platform and trigger a by-election.

This was the practice in the First and Second Republics of Nigeria. For instance, Sule Lamido left the PRP and honourably resigned his position, contested on a new platform and won. This was the practice at the time and continues to be the practice in the UK and other mature democracies.

With this initiative, the NDC is not preventing anybody from leaving the party. Constitutional safeguards for genuine party splits, such as those experienced by PDP, still exist. But if a member jumps ship for mere convenience, they have to resign the seat.

“This initiative’s required affidavit does not add to or alter the Constitution, it merely bolsters it. It enhances the moral authority of the party and provides a clear sworn statement that enables the NDC to apply for the seat to be declared vacant.”