In a major move to curb political defection and enforce party discipline, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a compulsory legal affidavit for all members seeking elective offices on its platform. Under the new policy, candidates must pledge to automatically forfeit their seats if they defect to another party after winning an election. ​
The National Chairman of the NDC, Moses Cleopas, announced the directive yesterday during an indemnity signing meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. ​Addressing party stakeholders, Cleopas emphasized that the measure is designed to preserve the party’s integrity, check political opportunism, and protect the mandate given by voters to the party.
​”While the NDC remains an open and inclusive party, the supremacy of the party must be respected by all members,” Cleopas stated. ​Key Highlights of the New Policy includes a mandatory legal binding that every aspirant must sign the anti-defection affidavit as part of the screening and nomination process. ​
An automatic seat forfeiture stating that any elected official who leaves the NDC for another political party will legally vacate their legislative or executive seat. Therefore, candidates who refuse to sign the indemnity agreement will face automatic disqualification from contesting under the party’s banner. ​
The leadership of the NDC noted that this preemptive strategy aims to bring stability to the country’s political landscape, ensuring that politicians no longer switch allegiances with voters’ mandates for personal gain.
