ANTI-DEFECTION POLICY CANNOT OVERRIDE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, SAM AMADI TELLS NDC.(PHOTO).

 Anti-Defection Policy Cannot Override Constitutional Rights, Sam Amadi Tells NDC

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, has said that no political party can prevent elected officials from defecting if their actions are consistent with provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Amadi stated this on Wednesday during a live interview while reacting to the anti-defection policy recently introduced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which requires candidates seeking elective offices on the party's platform to sign legal documents committing to vacate their positions if they leave the party after winning elections.

According to him, the party's attempt to address defections through legal undertakings may not be sufficient to resolve what is essentially a political problem.

“The NDC cannot solve a political problem through constitutional interpretation. The NDC is trying to solve a political problem through a constitutional question, but that approach is flawed,” he said.

Amadi argued that individuals cannot be lawfully barred from changing political parties if they believe their actions fall within the constitutional provisions governing defection.

“It is not possible to lawfully exclude people from decamping if they believe their actions fall within the provisions of the constitution they signed,” he said.

He maintained that elected officials retain the right to switch political parties where their reasons align with exceptions provided under the Constitution.

“If individuals choose to change political parties, they are allowed to do so, provided their reasons fall within the exceptions outlined in the constitution. In such cases, the law applies as provided,” Amadi added.

The NDC's anti-defection policy is aimed at strengthening party discipline and loyalty ahead of future elections, amid growing concerns over the frequent movement of elected officials between political parties.