₦airaland Forum

2027: NDC mandates governorship, National and State Assembly candidates to sign anti-defection forms

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a new measure to discourage defections among its members after elections.

The measure requires all the governorship and National Assembly candidates to sign an indemnity form committing them to vacating their seats if they leave the party after winning elections on its platform.

The move was unveiled by the party’s national chairman, Moses Cleopas, during the signing ceremony at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.


The occasion was attended by aspirants and candidates, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Cleopas explained that the development was not a witch-hunt but aimed at protecting the sanctity of electoral mandates and curbing what he described as “post-election political migration.”


He said the party would not tolerate situations in which elected officials abandon the platform that brought them to office while seeking to retain the mandate.

“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 said.

The national chairman explained that the policy was intended to ensure that candidates clearly accept the condition before contesting elections on the NDC platform. 

“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,” he said.


Referencing political realignments across parties, including the Labour Party, he said such cases underscored the need for stricter internal safeguards.

“In the Labour Party, we have seen situations where people won elections on the platform and later moved elsewhere. That is the kind of thing we are trying to stop,” he said.

On the legal basis of the policy, Mr Cleopas cited provisions from both international and domestic legal frameworks, arguing that while freedom of association is guaranteed, it does not automatically extend to retaining elective office after defection.

He specifically referenced Section 14 and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“It guarantees political participation and freedom of association, including the right to join or leave political parties,” he said.

Mr Cleopas also cited provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), arguing that democratic rights must be balanced with party-based electoral mandates.

According to him, elected officeholders are products of party nomination systems and therefore cannot separate their mandates from the platform that sponsored their election.


The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), further stated that the new anti-decamping initiative is a constitutional and moral safeguard against political prostitution and opportunistic defections.

The party clarified that the measure does not bar any elected official from leaving the party but insists they must relinquish the mandate obtained on the party’s platform.

“It’s an NDC-backed innovation to stop decamping and political prostitution,” the party said. “Anyone who wants to leave, they are free to leave, but you will have to vacate the seat. And that is even what the Constitution says. So our position aligns with the Constitution.”


The party drew a clear distinction between genuine party divisions and self-serving defections. “If there is a division in the party as defined by the Constitution, there’s no problem, you can go! The Constitution covers you in that case. But where you just feel on your own that you have won and you wish to leave to get a better deal with another party, you can go, but you will vacate the seat.”

The party emphasized that elected officials retain the right to exit but cannot take the mandate with them. “The elected official still reserves the right to leave the party, but what we are saying is that you can’t go with the mandate. Go and contest on a new platform. There will be a by-election for you to contest. This was the case in the First and Second Republics,” the party added.

Citing historical precedent, the party referenced former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido’s resignation from the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). “Sule Lamido, when he left PRP, he resigned. It’s an honourable thing to do and that’s what people were doing — you resign and go to a new party and contest. Even in the UK, that’s the way it is.”


The NDC explained that the requirement for an affidavit under the new policy merely reinforces existing constitutional provisions. “The affidavit is not adding anything to the Constitution; it only reinforces the Constitution. This increases the moral standing of the party and authorises the party to pursue your declaration to ensure that the seat is declared vacant — in black and white, signed by you on oath.”


Addressing concerns about the party’s nascent stage, the NDC acknowledged teething problems but urged patience. The NDC, which is barely four months old, has faced challenges with primaries and other internal processes, issues he noted are common even among established parties in government.


“NDC is working towards becoming an inclusive and attractive platform for anybody to want to stay, and we want everybody to stay and build the party with us,” the statement said. “If things are not right, stay and make it right. Don’t destroy it and leave. If things are good, stay and make it better.”


The party leadership appealed to stakeholders to bear with the party’s “baby steps,” pointing to ongoing reforms such as the digitalisation of primaries and the anti-decamping initiative. The leadership described these moves as evidence that the NDC is building a genuine political institution rather than a one-man show or special purpose vehicle (SPV).


“We have always talked about building a party like the ANC, the Democratic Party, Republican Party, Conservative Party, and the Labour Party in the UK. This is the direction the NDC seems to be going, and aspirants, leaders and supporters need to key in,” the party leadership stated.



Explaining further, the party’s national legal adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, expanded on the constitutional argument, saying the NDC constitution itself contains enforceable clauses on defection.

Mr Egwaba cited Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the NDC constitution, which, according to him, establish that elected officials remain bound by the party platform through which they were elected.

“These provisions make it clear that once you are elected under the NDC, your mandate is tied to the party. If you resign from the party, you cannot retain the office,” he said.

https://gazettengr.com/2027-ndc-mandates-governorship-national-assembly-candidates-to-sign-anti-defection-forms/

BREAKING: NDC has introduced a strict anti-defection policy mandating all our candidates for elective offices to sign indemnity and affidavit forms, committing to vacate their seats if they defect from the party after winning elections.

By implication, any NDC candidate that… pic.twitter.com/Ih5jQ8XMu7

— Thεό Abu (@TheoAbuAgada) June 16, 2026

This Dickson mean business.

You can't do what you did to Labor party here.

Iron caged and lock for their aspirants.

This is good. I hate it when you vote someone in and then they defect to another party and still keeps the position. Now with this, you go think very well before you defect. Na him make apc get all the governors dey get. This is very good. I approve

TemplarLandry:
This is funny.
NDC now looks more like the Mafia.

The document isn't even valid and can't be held against them. Waste of time and legal resources

izombie:
This is good. I hate it when you vote someone in and then they defect to another party and still keeps the position. Now with this, you go think very well before you defect. Na him make apc get all the governors dey get. This is very good. I approve

it can't stand the litmus test off law unless the constitution permits it, The Nigerian Constitution makes a distinction between legislators (members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly) and governors/deputy governors.
1. Members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly
The Constitution provides that a legislator who defects from the political party that sponsored his or her election may lose the seat.
For the National Assembly, see Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.
For the State House of Assembly, see Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution.
These sections state that a member shall vacate his seat if he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of his term unless:
There is a division in the political party that sponsored him; or
There is a merger involving that political party.
The courts have repeatedly held that the division must be a genuine and substantial division within the party, not merely personal disagreements.
2. Governors and Deputy Governors
The Constitution does not contain a similar provision requiring a governor or deputy governor to vacate office upon defection from the party that sponsored their election.
The Supreme Court has considered this issue and has generally held that a governor's mandate belongs to the electorate, and there is no constitutional provision automatically removing a governor for defecting to another party.
A governor can only leave office through constitutional means such as:
Expiration of tenure,
Resignation,
Death,
Impeachment under Section 188,
Permanent incapacity,
Or other grounds specifically provided by the Constitution.

TemplarLandry:
This is funny.
NDC now looks more like the Mafia.

No

They are enforcing what the constitution of Nigeria is suppose to do.

AWONEYAN:
This Dickson mean business.

You can't do what you did to Labor party here.

Iron caged and lock for their aspirants.

Na Obi he wan cage

Mynd44:
The document isn't even valid and can't be held against them. Waste of time and legal resources

No wonder Nairaland is still like this after 21 years… if a moderator can have a shallow mindset…. Yet you want a Nigeria that works but sees this approach as waste of time.

Tenses:
No

They are enforcing what the constitution of Nigeria is suppose to do.

On behalf of the Senate and the Executive abi? Dey play.

Na una create post, come post link to una WhatsApp group and na una come feast on it... Are you guys not tired??

TemplarLandry:
This is funny.
NDC now looks more like the Mafia.

floss:
No wonder Nairaland is still like this after 21 years… if a moderator can have a shallow mindset…. Yet you want a Nigeria that works but sees this approach as waste of time.

It is not a shallow mindset to tell the truth. That document can't stand any judicial scrutiny.

Ofunaofu:
2027: NDC mandates governorship, National Assembly candidates to sign anti-defection forms

BREAKING: NDC has introduced a strict anti-defection policy mandating all our candidates for elective offices to sign indemnity and affidavit forms, committing to vacate their seats if they defect from the party after winning elections.

By implication, any NDC candidate that… pic.twitter.com/Ih5jQ8XMu7

— Thεό Abu (@TheoAbuAgada) June 16, 2026

https://gazettengr.com/2027-ndc-mandates-governorship-national-assembly-candidates-to-sign-anti-defection-forms/

Waste of paper and ink because ex turpi causa non oritur actio! In English language it means you cannot enforce an illegal agreement in a court of Law! Unconstitutional!! The Constitution already provides for the procedure to recall one elected. NDC cannot enforce the so called anti-defection Forms! The voters own the mandate afforded the elected on the platform of the political party. Transactional politicians like The Don of NDC and the Maigida in Kano not forgetting The Angulu himself The Carrion Master have further exposed themselves for who they really are! Trust the Angulu to outsmart them all like he did Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu. That letter won't work to hold Peter Obi down in the NDC when the sweet gets to be in short supply! Could the beggarly Kenneth Okonkwo, stain and all, be right after all about the NDC 10 Million naira bribe allegedly demanded from folks who intend to contest on the NDC Platform?🧐🧐🧐

TemplarLandry:
This is funny.
NDC now looks more like the Mafia.

See The Don Himself Seated though without a fat cigar in his mouth!

Mynd44:
The document isn't even valid and can't be held against them. Waste of time and legal resources

A null & void document ab initio.

floss:
No wonder Nairaland is still like this after 21 years… if a moderator can have a shallow mindset…. Yet you want a Nigeria that works but sees this approach as waste of time.

U criticize someone else based on your own ignorance.

You Obidients are the worst, callously ignorant minded.

yemmight:
On behalf of the Senate and the Executive abi? Dey play.

When you have a binding business agreement, is it on behalf of the Senate and executive?

Lol...I agree with this wholeheartedly. About time.

This is dead on arrival. Won’t stand in any court. The Nigerian constitution permits decamping, no party constitution can supersede that

supported





11 more characters needed

Great move by the great party NDC👍
At least it won't be manipulated like the LP.


Peter Obi,I see your hand in this move👍


Nigerians will regret if the miss the opportunity of electing Peter Obi come 2027

Dickson didn't come to play . It's this senseless defection that destroyed PDP and LP completely

floss:
No wonder Nairaland is still like this after 21 years… if a moderator can have a shallow mindset…. Yet you want a Nigeria that works but sees this approach as waste of time.

What is the shallow mindset the moderator has.

In the eyes of the law, the document is worthless.

The Constitution of Nigeria permits defection if there is crisis in the party.

Tell me, is the document more superior than the Constitution.

You are the one with a shallow mindset. Commenting out of emotions.

Mynd44:
The document isn't even valid and can't be held against them. Waste of time and legal resources

u know d Nigerian legal system more than the san in NDC and senators abi ?

Hmmm. I support this. To discourage moles as well

Good move. This is how it should be

LOOK AT COMMENTS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THERAPY, IS NIGERIA PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, RADA RADA EVERYWHERE FROM HIGHLY EDUCATED NIGERIANS😀

This is nonsense, meaning that they don't hope win the majority.
If I were Peter Obi, I will gladly walk away from that party. They want to use him to build their party.

manmade:
it can't stand the litmus test off law unless the constitution permits it, The Nigerian Constitution makes a distinction between legislators (members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly) and governors/deputy governors.
1. Members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly
The Constitution provides that a legislator who defects from the political party that sponsored his or her election may lose the seat.
For the National Assembly, see Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.
For the State House of Assembly, see Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution.
These sections state that a member shall vacate his seat if he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of his term unless:
There is a division in the political party that sponsored him; or
There is a merger involving that political party.
The courts have repeatedly held that the division must be a genuine and substantial division within the party, not merely personal disagreements.
2. Governors and Deputy Governors
The Constitution does not contain a similar provision requiring a governor or deputy governor to vacate office upon defection from the party that sponsored their election.
The Supreme Court has considered this issue and has generally held that a governor's mandate belongs to the electorate, and there is no constitutional provision automatically removing a governor for defecting to another party.
A governor can only leave office through constitutional means such as:
Expiration of tenure,
Resignation,
Death,
Impeachment under Section 188,
Permanent incapacity,
Or other grounds specifically provided by the Constitution.

But y go through all this stress just to keep the option of porting before 4years is done?

Sure way to go. Let them not use Obi glory to enter seat and leave to another party tomorrow. Nice one.

Na them go still go court for interpretation of what they signed