Obi, Kwankwaso, others join NDC
The complexion of the nation’s political milieu changed again yesterday ahead of the 2027 elections. The opposition became fragmented despite last week’s pledge in Ibadan to work together and present
The complexion of the nation’s political milieu changed again yesterday ahead of the 2027 elections.
The opposition became fragmented despite last week’s pledge in Ibadan to work together and present a single presidential candidate against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the January 16 poll.
Barely three days after the Supreme Court judgment offered the African Democratic Congress (ADC) a lifeline amid its plethora of litigations, two of the party’s bigwigs, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, dumped the platform for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The NDC is one of the two political parties registered late last year, bringing the total number of parties in the country to 20.
Obi and Kwankwaso, believed to be working towards pairing for the presidential and vice-presidential slots, cited internal toxicity, insincerity and external influence as reasons for leaving the ADC, which they recently joined.
In a tweet before appearing at a meeting with NDC leaders, Obi said: “We now live in an environment that has become increasingly toxic, where the very system that should protect and create opportunities for decent living often works against the people; a society where intimidation, insecurity, endless scrutiny and discouragement have become normal.
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“More painful is when some of those you associate with, believing you would find understanding and solidarity among them, become part of the pressure you face. Some who publicly identify with you privately distance themselves or join in unfair criticism.
“We live in a society where humility is mistaken for weakness, respect is seen as a lack of courage, and compassion is treated as foolishness; a system where treating people equally is questioned simply because you refuse to worship status, tribe, class or power.
“Personally, I have never looked down on anyone except to uplift them. I have never used privilege, position or resources to oppress others, intimidate the weak or make people feel small. To me, leadership has always been about service, sacrifice and helping others rise.
“Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them.
“However, the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion and division, instead of focusing on deeper national problems and playing politics built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building.
“Even within spaces where one labours sincerely, one is sometimes treated like an outsider in one’s own home. You and your team become easy targets for every failure, frustration or misunderstanding, as though honest contribution has become a favour being tolerated rather than appreciated.
“And when you choose to leave so that those you are leaving can have peace, and you step out into the cold, you are still maligned and your character is questioned.
“Despite all your efforts to continue working for a better Nigeria and engaging people with sincerity and goodwill, those who do not wish you well continue to attack your character and question your intentions.”
Obi joined the ADC in December last year, while Kwankwaso joined in March.
Yesterday, after a meeting with officials of the NDC led by its national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, Obi and Kwankwaso moved with party leaders to the secretariat, where they were handed party registration cards along with their supporters who accompanied them.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and House of Representatives member Victor Oghene Ogene (Ogbaru Federal Constituency) defected along with Obi at the event.
Former Kano State Deputy Governor Nasir Gawuna, who recently moved to the ADC, and Alhaji Buba Galadima also defected alongside Kwankwaso at the event.
Today, other loyalists of the two political leaders are expected to move into the NDC, all in a bid to beat the May 10 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for parties to submit their electronic membership registers.
Party primaries are also expected to be concluded by May 30.
Obi, like Kwankwaso, has been politically itinerant, moving from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on whose platform he served as Anambra State governor, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he was presidential running mate in 2019; then to the Labour Party (LP), where he was presidential candidate in 2023; the ADC in 2025; and now the NDC.
Kwankwaso started out in 1999 in the PDP as governor of Kano State and later served as Minister of Defence.
He moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 and served as a senator.
He later joined the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), where he contested the presidency in 2023.
He joined the ADC less than two months ago, in March, and has now moved to the NDC.
Other NDC leaders at the meeting with the new defectors included the party’s National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, and former Adamawa State governorship candidate Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru (Binani), who last week defected to the NDC from the ADC.
Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga described Obi as a political “nomad” moving from one platform to another instead of building a stable political structure.
Obi told reporters that he and Kwankwaso decided to register with the NDC after discovering that they shared the same ideology and vision with the party.
He said: “We came here together with our team to consult His Excellency, the leader of this party, on our ideology, our blueprints and all that we believe in, especially my humble self and His Excellency, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“We realised we are all on the same page, believing in education, empowerment of young men and women, security and, of course, a very peaceful and united Nigeria.
“At this point, I would like to invite all Nigerians, including our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, especially those interested in contesting elections on the platform of this party, to register as soon as possible.”
He added: “Now that we realised that we only have a couple of days to do what we have to do concerning registration, we decided before coming out that all of us would register today by the grace of God.
“We are coming here to be a peaceful part of the family and to work hard to build a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria that will work for everybody. We want a country where a child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.”
Obi attributed the ADC crisis to interference by the ruling government, alleging that the opposition space had been destabilised through endless litigations and internal crises.
He said: “Peter Obi contested the 2023 election in a different party. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso contested the same election in another party.
“But the government of today ensured that crises upon crises were created in our parties, leading to litigation and everything that made us abandon those parties.
“But what we saw was that they carried the same problems to where we moved to.”
The former governor appealed to members of the NDC to avoid litigation and focus on nation-building.
He said: “The leader has already told us - no litigation. We are pleading with members, for the sake of democracy, don’t come here and start court cases.
“We do not want to spend our time in litigation and fighting ourselves. We want to spend our time dealing with issues affecting ordinary Nigerians.”
Kwankwaso said the decision to join the party was driven by the desire to build a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians to embrace unity and actively participate in the political process as part of efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous nation.
Kwankwaso commended party leaders for their commitment to national development and inclusive leadership, noting that his interactions had provided deeper insight into the party’s ideology, blueprint and long-term vision.
He said discussions with stakeholders revealed shared priorities, particularly in advancing education and empowering young people and women across the country.
Kwankwaso described the NDC as not only a political platform, but also a vehicle for social development and inclusion.
He urged Nigerians, especially prospective aspirants, to take advantage of the limited window available to register and participate in the party’s ongoing processes ahead of the upcoming elections.
He emphasised the need for collective commitment to peace, unity and national progress, expressing confidence that such values would drive meaningful change in the country.
Dickson welcomes duo
Senator Dickson described Obi and Kwankwaso as major political brands whose entry into the NDC would strengthen the party ahead of future elections.
He said: “On behalf of the leaders and members of our party, I welcome you specially to the NDC. You are two of the biggest political brands in our nation. We are happy that you have invested confidence in the dream and vision of this party.
“This is a party for Nigerian women and youths, a party of dedicated servants of the people.”
Dickson described the defectors as “qualified and suitable suitors,” saying they should already be regarded as “in-laws” of the party family.
He said: “You don’t wait for the marriage ceremonies to be concluded before you begin to treat that particular suitor as an in-law.
“These are very handsome, very qualified and very suitable suitors. And we can already pronounce you as in-laws.”
He added that the two opposition leaders came into the party with massive political structures and loyal supporters across the country.
Dickson stressed: “You, the two of you, are among the biggest political brands in our nation. We are waiting to hit the streets when the real movement begins. You should gird your loins and get ready. They have come.”
Dickson also noted that the calibre of politicians joining the party showed that the NDC was becoming a major political force ahead of the 2027 elections.
Binani said the party was honoured to receive the two opposition leaders, describing them as household names with strong support among youths and women.
She said: “It gives me great delight to witness this historic event. Our party has officially received very important politicians and renowned national leaders.
“Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Peter Obi are household names in this country, especially among the youth and women.
“Incidentally, youths and women are the bedrock of our party’s support base. The Nigeria Democratic Congress stands for fairness, equity and justice.”
Senator Cleopas said the NDC had become a rallying point for Nigerians seeking political change and national rebirth.
He described the party as “the Noah’s Ark” of Nigerian politics because of the calibre of politicians joining its fold.
Cleopas said: “We want to thank our leaders and all your numerous followers across the country and even in the diaspora for coming into the Noah’s Ark.
“The journey to rescue Nigeria begins now. Go and register and ensure that you are members of the NDC.”
At the event, Obi and Kwankwaso were formally decorated with NDC symbols and presented with their membership cards amid cheers from supporters and party faithful.
Senator Victor Umeh and Mr Buba Galadima were also decorated with the signature fez caps of the NDC, signalling their official defections into the party.
Others at the meeting included former APC governorship candidate in Kano State, Nasir Gawuna; Senator Kabir Marafa, who recently joined the NDC; former Kano State Governor Senator Kabiru Gaya; Hon. Afam Ogene; Dr Sam Amadi; and Senator Gilbert Nnaji from Enugu State.
Obi, a political nomad, says Presidency
Onanuga said Obi is a political nomad prone to opportunistic shifts.
The presidential adviser, in a post on X, derided Obi’s explanation for the move, dismissing it as incoherent and self-serving.
He said: “We told you so. The political nomad is on the move again. Ignore all those puerile reasons he gave in these illogical musings, a self-serving letter to his mob.”
Onanuga described Obi as “a politician made of jelly” and “an opportunistic fellow,” saying he lacks the staying power to compete within party structures.
He added: “He can’t fight Atiku or Amaechi for the ticket of ADC. He pursues the easy road that will only lead him to doom, like in 2023.”
Onanuga also took a swipe at Obi’s political style, accusing him of shifting blame rather than engaging in self-reflection.
The presidential aide said: “He always blames the government without doing a soul-searching of himself. Welcome, Peter, to the 2027 race.”
