Obi, Kwankwaso Dump ADC for NDC Ahead of 2027

Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso dump ADC for NDC, setting the stage for a fierce three-horse race ahead of the 2027 polls.

Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC

Nigeria’s political landscape just experienced a major shift. Two of the country's most prominent opposition figures have found a new political home ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have officially joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The move was finalized on Sunday, May 3, 2026. It marks a turning point for the opposition as politicians begin early jostling for the next presidential race.

The two heavyweights made their way to the residence of Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, the National Leader of the NDC. They arrived at exactly 5:14 p.m. for high-level consultations with party leaders.

After a closed-door session that lasted over an hour, the meeting wrapped up at 6:45 p.m. Dickson, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, received them alongside the NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, and other members of the National Working Committee.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, Kwankwaso did not hesitate to call on his supporters. He urged them and other political associates to rally behind the NDC and help build the party's strength across the country.

This defection did not happen overnight. Trouble had been brewing in their former party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), for weeks.

Kwankwaso's Kwankwasiyya movement raised the alarm over three pending court cases against the ADC at the Federal High Court. They felt the legal troubles made the party too unstable to serve as a reliable vehicle for 2027.

Yusuf Kofarmata, a top leader in the Kwankwasiyya movement, echoed these fears. He pointed out that the ADC was fighting severe internal leadership crises and structural problems that threatened the party's survival.

Peter Obi had his own reasons for leaving. He has not attended any ADC meetings since the opposition summit in Ibadan. His growing frustration stemmed from the party's failure to zone its presidential ticket. Obi sees zoning as a vital step to ensure fairness and national unity.

There was also pressure from the electoral umpire. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had set a strict deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers. This ticking clock forced the politicians to act fast.

Their decision to join the NDC was carefully planned. Habibu Mohammed, the spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya movement, confirmed that talks with the NDC were already at an advanced stage, with only minor issues left to resolve.

In Kano, representatives from all 44 local government areas gathered at Kwankwaso's residence to weigh their options. They looked at the People's Redemption Party (PRP) and the NDC. At the end of the deliberations, the stakeholders unanimously agreed that the NDC was the best platform.

Party insiders say this move is a massive boost for the NDC. It signals a growing wave of confidence in the party across the country. Both Obi and Kwankwaso clearly made this move to clear the path for their 2027 presidential ambitions.

Political analyst Japheth Omojuwa had already predicted this realignment. He believes the 2027 election will be a fierce three-horse race. The Obi-Kwankwaso bloc in the NDC will battle Atiku Abubakar's group and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, not everyone is celebrating the move. Media entrepreneur Jaafar Jaafar warned that leaving the ADC might be a poor gamble. He advised the two leaders to stay in the ADC and fight their battles together from within.

Some Nigerians are also skeptical about the partnership. Critics wonder if the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance is built on shared principles or if it is just a temporary arrangement for political convenience.