Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have defected from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as part of a massive political realignment triggered by a Supreme Court ruling and upcoming INEC deadlines.
The Nigerian political landscape has been upended by a wave of high-profile defections as Peter Obi, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and several other prominent leaders officially moved from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). This mass exit, which includes notable figures like Senator Victor Umeh and Senator Kabir Marafa, follows a Supreme Court decision that has left the ADC and PDP labeled as “uncertain platforms.” The timing is critical, as politicians race to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) May 10 deadline for the submission of membership registers to ensure their eligibility for the 2027 general elections.
At a strategic parley held at the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor Senator Seriake Dickson, the defecting leaders were formally registered and issued NDC membership cards. During the ceremony, Peter Obi expressed that the prevailing climate of internal party conflicts and legal battles has stalled national progress, necessitating a shift to a more stable platform. “We are gathered here because we believe in building a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria that works for everyone. It is unacceptable that over 50 per cent of our population is not productively engaged. That must change,’’ Obi said. He urged a refocus on tackling poverty and insecurity rather than perpetual political infighting.
Echoing these sentiments, Senator Kwankwaso emphasized that the NDC would serve as a vehicle for social development, with a specific focus on education and the empowerment of women and youth. The realignment extends beyond the NDC, as Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State similarly dumped the PDP for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) over the weekend. As this decisive week unfolds, further changes in the configuration of the Senate and House of Representatives are expected, with the presidency already reacting to the shift by mocking Obi’s latest move amid the intensifying scramble for political survival.
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