Questions as NDC asks candidates to sign agreement

The indemnity bond introduced by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to curtail defection of members to other parties after winning elections has come under serious scrutiny across platforms.

Our correspondents report that the party introduced a new measure aimed at discouraging political defections by requiring its  candidates to sign indemnity forms, committing them to vacate their seats if they leave the party after winning an election.

Some of experts who spoke to our correspondents said the decision is a welcome step to curb the activities of the country’s ‘nomadic’ politicians.

Others however contend that a better way to have handled the matter is for the National Assembly to initiate a bill and amend the Electoral Act rather than a political party taking.

The move was unveiled on Tuesday by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, during a signing ceremony attended by aspirants and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections at the party’s National Secretariat.

Speaking on the issue, a political scientist at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Gbade Ojo, described the proposed undertaking as a reflection of the weaknesses in Nigeria’s democratic culture, arguing that politicians often lack ideological commitment to the parties they join.

He said the absence of clear ideological foundations has encouraged politicians to treat parties merely as platforms for attaining power before moving elsewhere.

“As a political scientist, that development is a sign that our democracy is not growing. If our democratic system and practice are growing, people will belong to political parties for a purpose and a reason,” he said.

Ojo noted that several politicians who rose to power on party platforms later abandoned those same platforms, a trend he said has weakened party development and democratic consolidation.

While conceding that political defections have become a major challenge, Ojo said any lasting solution should come through legislative reforms rather than binding undertakings imposed by political parties.

“What could have been done is for the National Assembly to initiate a bill and amend the Electoral Act. But even that could be challenged as an infringement on fundamental human rights,” he said.

On concerns over persistent defections, he argued that preventing politicians from leaving a political party could amount to an infringement on the constitutional right to freedom of association.

However, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Salman Jawondo, disagreed with the position, insisting that the undertaking does not violate any constitutional provision or fundamental right.

He said no right is absolute and political actors who voluntarily subscribe to the constitution and rules of a political party are bound by its provisions.

“That is not an infringement or violation of a member’s right. There is no right that is absolute. A person can surrender part of his rights by subscribing to the constitution, rules and regulations of a political party,” he said.

Jawondo argued that politicians who secure electoral victories on a party’s platform should not be allowed to transfer the mandate to another political party before the expiration of their tenure.

“If the decision of the party is that if you win on our platform, you will not carry our mandate to another political party, then it is a very good decision,” he stated.

The senior lawyer further maintained that the proposed undertaking aligns with existing constitutional provisions governing legislators who defect from the parties under which they were elected.

He, however, noted that the major challenge to enforcing such an agreement would be delays in the judicial process rather than any constitutional limitation.

A very close associate of Mr. Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate told Daily Trust yesterday that measure is not intended for the presidential candidate of the party as he said it wouldn’t make sense for any candidate after winning an election to defect to another party.

He said if the presidential candidate of the NDC wins the 2027 election it is members of other parties that would be expected to join the ruling party and not the other way round.

“So, I don’t know why anyone should assume it was targeted at the presidential candidate. As a principle he doesn’t comment on matters concerning the party publicly but I can tell you it is in order to stop lawmakers who win on the ticket of the party from defecting to other parties,” he said.(daily trust)