The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a new policy requiring its governorship and National Assembly candidates to sign indemnity forms committing to vacate their seats if they defect from the party after winning elections.
The measure, unveiled by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, at the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, is aimed at protecting electoral mandates and reinforcing party discipline ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Cleopas said the policy underscores the principle of party supremacy, stressing that elected offices belong to the party platform and the voters who supported it.
According to him, candidates who secure victory on the NDC ticket cannot retain their positions if they later abandon the party, adding that the move is designed to prevent the growing trend of post-election political defections.
The party chairman cited recent political realignments across parties as justification for stricter internal safeguards, arguing that elected officials should remain loyal to the platform that sponsored their emergence.
Also speaking, NDC National Legal Adviser Reuben Egwuaba said the policy is backed by provisions of the party’s constitution, maintaining that elected officials remain bound to the party throughout their tenure and must relinquish their offices if they resign from the NDC.
