NDC’s anti‑defection policy is questionable, says Sam Amadi

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, has called the Nigeria Democratic Congress’s (NDC) anti‑defection policy “dubious.”

Amadi made the comment on Friday during an interview on Arise Television’s “Prime Time.”

He was speaking about the NDC’s new anti‑defection rule, which was introduced ahead of the 2027 general elections. The rule requires candidates who run on the NDC platform to sign legal documents pledging that they will vacate any elected office if they leave the party after winning.

Amadi said, “I think this NDC anti‑defection policy is dubious. The psychology and sense in which the party is pushing this act could be considered as a distrust in its candidates and shows weakness.”

“Their focus should be on winning the election and the presidency. Once you win the presidency, the people there will stay with you. And so the history says that once you lose, people will likely go for the winner’s party,” he added.

“And so, for me, at this point, it quite doesn’t suggest strength, it doesn’t suggest coherence, it rather suggests distrust of their own candidates,” Amadi continued.

“So, NDC doing this looks like innovation, but in essence, it’s really a sign of lack of trust on those who are taking the ticket, and a sense of its own weakness.”