Defect and lose your seat, NDC warns aspirants
NDC Implements Indemnity Requirement for Candidates Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — In preparation for the 2027 presidential and general elections, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced a new policy mandating all governorship and National Assembly candidates to submit an indemnity affidavit. This measure aims to mitigate political defections and promote loyalty among elected officials.
The NDC has indicated that this policy will use signed affidavits to hold candidates accountable if they choose to defect to another party after winning elections under the NDC platform.
During an event at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, NDC National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas emphasized that the party is taking a firm stance to solidify its commitment to democratic integrity. “Once you take the ticket, you are bound by it. If you leave, you leave with the seat,” he said.
Cleopas stated that the party will not permit elected officials to abandon the platform that facilitated their election while retaining their seats. He reiterated that “the mandate belongs to the party and the people who voted through that platform.”
Concerns over political realignments were raised, particularly regarding instances involving the Labour Party where candidates have shifted allegiance after elections. Cleopas noted that such movements can weaken political institutions, erode public trust, and hinder the democratic process.
Unlike many political entities focused primarily on winning elections, Cleopas characterized the NDC as a long-term institution meant to endure beyond its founders. He cited global best practices that informed the party’s decision to create structures ensuring continuity and ideological consistency.
He lamented the trend where politicians secure victories through one party and subsequently defect after taking office, stressing that loyalty to the NDC is a prerequisite for all elected officials.
The NDC chairman reaffirmed that any elected official leaving the party post-election must relinquish their mandate. “Anyone who chooses to leave the party after winning an election under our platform must also surrender the mandate obtained through the party,” he declared.
Legal frameworks supporting this policy were outlined, referencing both international and domestic law. Cleopas argued that while freedom of association is a guaranteed right, it does not entitle individuals to retain elective office after switching parties. He pointed to Section 14 and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and provisions in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, emphasizing that the rights of elected officials must align with party-based electoral mandates.
NDC National Legal Adviser Reuben Egwuaba further elaborated on the legal basis for the policy, highlighting judicial precedents that support the primacy of political parties in elections. He clarified that candidates must sign an affidavit acknowledging and accepting the party’s anti-defection provisions before their nominations can be processed.
“The party is committed to enforcing the policy through lawful means and in accordance with the Constitution,” Egwuaba stated. He added that candidates who fail to complete this affidavit will not have their nominations submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This new requirement aims to eliminate what Egwuaba described as “legal loopholes that allow post-election defections without consequence.” The NDC hopes these measures will enhance political accountability and strengthen its institutional framework leading into the upcoming elections.
