NDC Can’t Block Lawful Defections – Amadi

According to Ireporter Online, the Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has criticized the anti-defection policy introduced by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that no political party can lawfully prevent elected officials from defecting if such actions fall within constitutional provisions.

Amadi made the remarks on Wednesday during a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he reacted to the party’s requirement that candidates contesting under its platform must sign legal undertakings committing to vacate their seats if they later leave the party after being elected.

He faulted the policy, insisting that the NDC was attempting to address a political issue through constitutional interpretation, which he described as fundamentally flawed. According to him, political defections can only be contested within the clear limits already established by the constitution.

The public affairs analyst further argued that it would be difficult to legally restrict politicians from defecting if they can justify their actions under constitutionally recognized exceptions. He maintained that elected officials retain the right to switch political parties where their reasons align with the law, stressing that constitutional provisions ultimately take precedence in such matters.