2027: Calculations Shift As Obi, Kwankwaso Join NDC

The defection of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and the former presidential flagbearer of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has created a fresh twist to the 2027 general elections race.

The two former governors yesterday met with the NDC leader and former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, and after long hours of deliberations, were presented with membership cards of the party.

A video footage from the event showed the two leaders actively participating in the registration process with Kwankwaso being presented with his membership card, after which Obi received his.

Few hours after Obi left the ADC, he was seen with Kwankwaso at the Guzape residence of the leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson in Abuja. They arrived at about 5:14 p.m. and went into a closed-door meeting with the former Bayelsa State governor.

The duo had been talking with the leaders of the NDC and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) since the crisis in the ADC began.

They were said to have made up their minds to move immediately after the Supreme Court judgment of last week which remitted the leadership tussle in the ADC to the trial court though it recognized the David Mark leadership.

Our correspondents, however, gathered that the duo settled for NDC given that the party is new and to avoid similar problems they faced in the ADC, where Nafiu Bala Gombe is claiming to be the national chairman of the party, thereby factionalizing the party to the extent that the court did not recognize its national convention.

Our correspondents report that as the two leaders were considering the PRP faction, a group came up last week to claim leadership of the party. This was said to have created fears that there might be some unresolved leadership issues there.

Obi and Kwankwaso are believed to be planning to run a joint ticket which led to the formation of the group known as the OK Movement.

Why they left ADC

Daily Trust’s findings revealed that while they were in the ADC, there were internal wrangling within the party that made it uncomfortable for the duo to continue in the party.

Obi and Kwankwaso had joined the ADC after it was formed in what was seen as a coalition of opposition forces to challenge the All Progressives Congress in 2027.

Less than four days after the Supreme Court recognised the leadership of Senator David Mark but ordered the party to return to the trial court, two of the leading presidential hopefuls have made it clear that their hopes do not lie with the ADC.

Daily Trust reliably gathered that Obi and Kwankwaso were not comfortable with the ADC’s silence over zoning the presidential ticket while continuing as if that does not matter.

Apart from zoning the presidential ticket, the party appears to be comfortable with its image as belonging to one of the presidential aspirants and nothing is being done to correct such an impression.

A source within the party said, “The idea that the ADC was formed by some people and the rest of us are seen as latter-day joiners did not sit well with us.”

Obi betrayed this sentiment when he stated that, “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.

“Many people do not truly understand the silent pains some of us carry daily—the private struggles, emotional burdens, and quiet battles we face while trying to survive and serve sincerely in difficult circumstances.

“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.

“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.”

One of the sources told our correspondent, “The problem with the party leaders is mainly who gets the party ticket. If you remember, the last interview by the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, he said this is his last short at the Presidency and he is making all efforts to be on the ballot.

“Some of the leaders were hoping to prevail on him to concede the ticket to the South. But he is not backing down. He wants to make sure that he gives his best in the race. If you remember immediately, the Supreme Court delivered judgment on the last election, Atiku started calling for a coalition.”

Another source said, “The problem with the ADC is failure to spell out the rules of engagement. The issue of zoning has also been there; the party has refused to be categorical, it is better for the party to have said this is our position on zoning. We are zoning to the North or the South. But if you are not zoning, then the party should have said so.”

He said the issue of just being silent has come back to hunt the party, adding that, “Atiku wants to be on the ballot because it is his last try and Peter Obi wants to be on the ballot and has promised to do one term, because he knows by 2031, the Presidency will move to the North.”

Our correspondents also found out that there are other external factors, like the current ruling by the Supreme Court.

Though the Supreme Court has asked Senator David Mark leadership to take over and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the party leadership, some party leaders are said to have expressed reservations that going through the process of litigation all over again from the lower court will be a clog in the wheel of progress of the party, ahead of the 2027 general elections.(Daily trust)