Agbonayinma Cautiously Backs NDC's Anti-Defection Policy, Calls Out "Sole Administrator" Leadership
The newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially introduced a highly strict anti-defection policy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the new guidelines, all candidates vying for elective positions must sign legally binding indemnity and affidavit forms committing to completely vacate their seats should they defect to another political party after winning an election.
Appearing live on Arise News’ The Morning Show, prominent politician, former House of Representatives member, and current Edo South senatorial aspirant under the NDC, Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, voiced support for the policy's intent to curb reckless party-hopping.
However, he quickly pivoted to deliver a scathing critique of the NDC's internal leadership, warning that political loyalty cannot be a one-way street.
A Systemic Defense Against Party-Hopping
The introduction of the affidavit policy comes as a preventative measure following structural concerns that the NDC, which has recently absorbed high-profile defectors from both the APC and PDP, could see its elected members switch loyalties post-election.
Legal and political minds have questioned whether the party has the constitutional capacity to enforce such an indemnity beyond existing provisions in the 1999 Constitution, which already mandates seat forfeiture unless a structural factionalization or party split can be legally proven.
Agbonayinma, who himself famously migrated across the AC, ACN, APC, and PDP before joining the NDC, defended the logic of making candidates sign undertakings but insisted that the clause must protect members if the party collapses into internal chaos.
"Loyalty is a two-way traffic," Agbonayinma stated. "You must be loyal to the party, but the party must also do everything within the context of the law, even within the party's guidelines and rules. When a party is factionalized or shattered one way or the other, what do you want the members of that party to do? If the party has issues and shatters, the member also has the right to defect. So there must be a clause. It is not a one-way traffic."
"I Have Never Seen This Level of Irregularity"
The conversation took a sharp turn when the anchors grilled Agbonayinma on deep-seated grievances surrounding the recently concluded NDC primaries. Weeks after the internal elections were held, several official results remain withheld amidst widespread allegations of bribery, extortion for tickets, and the unilateral handpicking of "anointed" candidates by elite party stakeholders.
Agbonayinma, visibly frustrated by the handling of the Edo South senatorial primary, expressed deep disillusionment with the party's top brass, going as far as comparing them unfavorably to his former political homes.
"Fortunately, where we are today in the NDC, a lot of irregularity, a lot of problem and confusion... We have seen how members and aspirants have been treated. It is very sad. If this is the party that wants to change Nigeria, I think they need to change their ways and things have to be done right because charity begins at home.
I've been in APC, I've been in PDP, and I have not seen such a thing. This is not a one-man show. The political party belongs to everybody. It is not one man taking decisions, dictating, and being a sole administrator."
The interview concluded on a highly contentious note when an Arise News anchor directly challenged the aspirant's grievances, asking, "If you feel the NDC is rubbish, why don't you just use your constitutional right and go back to the APC?" Agbonayinma rejected the dismissal, countering that it is the fundamental right of Nigerians to speak truth to power within their chosen platforms rather than constantly fleeing from lawless political environments.A Systemic Defense Against Party-Hopping
The introduction of the affidavit policy comes as a preventative measure following structural concerns that the NDC, which has recently absorbed high-profile defectors from both the APC and PDP, could see its elected members switch loyalties post-election. Legal and political minds have questioned whether the party has the constitutional capacity to enforce such an indemnity beyond existing provisions in the 1999 Constitution, which already mandates seat forfeiture unless a structural factionalization or party split can be legally proven.
Agbonayinma, who himself famously migrated across the AC, ACN, APC, and PDP before joining the NDC, defended the logic of making candidates sign undertakings but insisted that the clause must protect members if the party collapses into internal chaos.
"Loyalty is a two-way traffic," Agbonayinma stated. "You must be loyal to the party, but the party must also do everything within the context of the law, even within the party's guidelines and rules. When a party is factionalized or shattered one way or the other, what do you want the members of that party to do? If the party has issues and shatters, the member also has the right to defect. So there must be a clause. It is not a one-way traffic."
"I Have Never Seen This Level of Irregularity"
The conversation took a sharp turn when the anchors grilled Agbonayinma on deep-seated grievances surrounding the recently concluded NDC primaries. Weeks after the internal elections were held, several official results remain withheld amidst widespread allegations of bribery, extortion for tickets, and the unilateral handpicking of "anointed" candidates by elite party stakeholders.
Agbonayinma, visibly frustrated by the handling of the Edo South senatorial primary, expressed deep disillusionment with the party's top brass, going as far as comparing them unfavorably to his former political homes.
"Fortunately, where we are today in the NDC, a lot of irregularity, a lot of problem and confusion... We have seen how members and aspirants have been treated. It is very sad. If this is the party that wants to change Nigeria, I think they need to change their ways and things have to be done right because charity begins at home.
I've been in APC, I've been in PDP, and I have not seen such a thing. This is not a one-man show. The political party belongs to everybody. It is not one man taking decisions, dictating, and being a sole administrator."
The interview concluded on a highly contentious note when an Arise News anchor directly challenged the aspirant's grievances, asking, "If you feel the NDC is rubbish, why don't you just use your constitutional right and go back to the APC?" Agbonayinma rejected the dismissal, countering that it is the fundamental right of Nigerians to speak truth to power within their chosen platforms rather than constantly fleeing from lawless political environments.
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