politics
Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso Join NDC from ADC Before 2027 Nigerian Elections
Former governors Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso left the African Democratic Congress to join the National Democratic Coalition on Sunday. The move drew criticism from the presidency and APC, while sparking concerns among opposition figures. Stakeholders emphasized the need for ideological clarity in political realignments.
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Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, exited the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Sunday and joined the National Democratic Coalition (NDC). The defection occurred ahead of the 2027 general elections, intensifying political permutations in Nigeria's opposition landscape.
AllAfrica reported that the shift formalizes their departure from the ADC to the NDC, marking a fresh shake-up in opposition dynamics.
Onanuga dismissed Obi's justification as 'illogical musings' and accused him of avoiding political contestation. The APC accused Peter Obi of serial defections in search of an uncontested presidential ticket. These responses from the ruling party and presidency highlight tensions as opposition figures reposition for the upcoming elections.
He revealed that consultations among key opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, had been ongoing since 2024 to build a common front. Senator Seriake Dickson, founder and national leader of the NDC, welcomed the defectors. Dickson said the NDC is 'a fast-growing platform ready to challenge the status quo' and 'is prepared to box above its weight...
His comments underscore the NDC's positioning as a unified alternative in the political arena. Usman Bala Idris, national secretary of the Grassroots Mobilisation Network (GMN), addressed the defections. Idris said, 'Moving from one party to another will not solve the problem...
The GMN, an ADC support group, expressed warnings that continued defections could weaken opposition credibility. Auwal Ibrahim Musa-Rafsanjani, executive director of CISLAC and head of Transparency International Nigeria, commented on the moves. Musa-Rafsanjani said political realignments must be anchored on clear ideological direction and the public interest, not political expediency.
