The trend of defections within the opposition continued ahead of the 2027 general elections, as Mr Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, and Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, along with other notable members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), announced their resignation from the party and confirmed their new affiliation with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In their separate statements, the duo of Pater Obi and Musa Kwankwaso gave reasons for their exit from the ADC on Sunday, shattering the fragile string holding the coalition together. Both blamed the endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division within the ADC in recent times for their decision, adding that these compounding challenges have taken priority over a focus on deeper national problems that need attention.
Mr Obi officially joined a coalition of opposition figures within the African Democratic Congress, with the stated aim of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the APC, on December 31, 2025, in Enugu, Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso joined the movement weeks after leaving the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
However, since the adoption of the ADC as the opposition platform, the party has been grappling with several internal disputes, with three factions laying claims to the leadership of the party, leading to the recent derecognition of the platform by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and lawsuits over the leadership of the party.
Peter Obi’s Statement
In a statement on his X handle on Sunday, Mr Peter Obi, “Fellow Nigerians, good morning. I woke up this morning after my church service with a deeply reflective heart, and despite every constraint, I felt compelled to share these thoughts with you.
“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.
“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.
“There are moments I ask God in prayer: Why is doing the right thing often misconstrued as wrongdoing in our country? Why is integrity not valued? Why is the prudent management of resources, especially when invested in critical areas like education and healthcare, wrongly labelled as stinginess? Why are humility and obedience to the rule of law often taken to be weakness rather than discipline?
“Let me assure all that I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President. I am desperate to see a society that can console a mother whose child has been kidnapped or killed while going to school or work. I am desperate to see a Nigeria where people will not live in IDP camps but in their homes. I am desperate for a country where Nigerian citizens do not go to bed hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from.
“Yet, despite everything, I remain resolute. I firmly believe that Nigeria can still become a country with competent leadership based on justice, compassion, and equal opportunity for all”.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s Statement
On his part, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, in a statement on his X handle twenty-four hours before his defection, titled “Clarification on My Political Position”, stated that “We have noted recent media reports and discussions suggesting a possible realignment within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) due to the current challenges facing the party.
“In light of the misleading narratives in the public domain, I wish to state categorically that no final decision has been taken regarding my political future or that of my political associates.
“The recent Supreme Court judgment, while affirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), also remitted the matter back to the High Court. This has left the party in a precarious position.
“In addition, the Federal High Court has recently ruled to delegitimise the party’s recent convention. The Attorney General of the Federation has also strangely applied to a Federal High Court to deregister the ADC.
“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous. The ADC has also been forced into this difficulty.
“Consequently, like other major stakeholders, we have commenced wide-ranging consultations — including with leaders from the NDC, PRP and others to explore the best options for protecting our democratic interests. We shall announce our decision in the soonest possible time.
“On the issue of presidential candidacy, I wish to recall my consistent record as a committed democrat. In the 2014 APC presidential primary, I came second to President Muhammadu Buhari (whom I fully supported to victory), with Atiku Abubakar third, Rochas Okorocha fourth, and the late Sam Nda-Isaiah fifth. Similarly, in 2019, I contested the PDP presidential ticket and immediately supported the winner, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, serving as the campaign’s coordinator in the North. I have always placed national interest and party unity above personal ambition.
“Furthermore, the ADC is yet to zone its presidential ticket or take any decision on a candidate. I have therefore neither declared any intention to run for president nor endorsed any aspirant. All speculations to the contrary are premature and unfounded.
“My absence from the two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments. I promptly communicated my apologies to the party leadership.
“We shall continue to engage constructively at all levels. Any definitive position on our political direction will be communicated formally through official channels at the appropriate time.
Announcing their Defection to the CDC
For Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who stated that he was unsure where he was heading next, he gleefully announced their joint defection on his X handle later on Sunday. Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso stated, “Yesterday, we took a bold and decisive step by formally joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“At the residence of Senator Seriake Dickson in Abuja, I announced that our decision stems from a deep commitment to democratic values.
“We are determined to provide our people with a credible platform where they can thrive and realise their full potential.
“I therefore call on all our dedicated supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to join the NDC and stand with us in this renewed fight for good governance and true democracy.”
A Brewing Storm, Legal Battle Against the NDC?
Some analysts had opined that the government’s attention would soon shift to the NDC. True to such predictions, when it was clear that the duo of Peter Obi and Musa Kwankwaso were heading to the NDC, there were media appearances by a major promoter of another political association leader, the African Democratic Alliance (ADA), querying how the NDC was registered by the INEC and not his own.
Sensing what was about to come, the leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, issued a statement on his X handle explaining how long and the steps he took to register the NDC
“I wish to address the misguided and sponsored propaganda against the NDC from Dr. Umar Ardo, someone I have called a friend and political ally for several years.
“Dr. Ardo’s consistent propaganda against the NDC, especially knowing my involvement as founder and national leader, is shocking and speaks to a lack of respect and loyalty to friendship.
“The truth about NDC is in the public domain: The application commenced in 2017, when Dr. Ardo wasn’t even dreaming of registering a political party. The process stalled because INEC, under Dr. Mahmood Yakubu, halted the registration of political parties.
“However, last year, when INEC lifted the embargo on registration of political parties, we revived our application and were subsequently listed alongside the 171 political associations. We waited to be invited by INEC to participate in the next stages of the registration process, only to receive a letter from INEC stating that our application was declined because our proposed logo, which is the two-finger sign, was similar to that of the APC broom.
“This was shocking to us and we wrote back to INEC to restate that the logos were in no way similar. INEC persisted and even refused us the opportunity to change the logo, upon our offer to do so.
“We wrote to INEC notifying them of our intention to sue and we went to court over this unlawful exclusion and upon this, the court enforced our rights to freedom of association, deemed us registered and directed INEC to register us, which they have implemented. INEC announced the NDC as one of the political parties in the country and issued a certificate of registration which we thank Prof. Amupitan, SAN, and the INEC, just as we thank the Judiciary.
“INEC did not and has not appealed this judgment, and by the way, the period of appeal has elapsed, and no one, except INEC, has the locus standi to appeal the judgement. The judgment has been enforced by INEC and there’s nothing to appeal anymore. Moreover, if INEC, which is the defendant, has not appealed the judgment which has been accepted, implemented and obeyed, then no one can appeal against such.
“Upon receiving the certificate, we gave the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC and they came about two weeks ago to observe our first NEC, which confirmed our officers and also took dates for our congresses and primaries, to be announced by the party soon.
“Dr. Ardo is aware of all of this because, being a friend, we spoke, where he explained his frustrations stemming from INEC’s refusal to register the ADA. I explained how I faced a similar delay but approached the court and advised him to do same, which he followed.
“I am aware of the challenges he has in court as a result of disputes between him and his fellow promoters of the ADA and the NDC has nothing to do with this and, therefore, can not bear any responsibilities for his disappointment and frustration.
“A few weeks ago, INEC also registered the NDP, which was excluded but went to court and got judgement. And again, INEC chairman and his team did not appeal against it but obeyed the order, registered the party and issued a certificate of registration.
“The NDC is therefore not the only party that was registered as a result of a court order. It is curious that Dr. Adoh’s vituperations said nothing about the NDP or other registered political parties.
“We are happy with the NDC’s registration and its formal presentation. Nigerians from all over the country and in the diaspora are registering massively, and the party is gaining momentum with our officers working hard and promoting it. I am doing the same, receiving top politicians from across the country and from all political parties.
“Considering our friendship, if ADA had been registered and NDC were not, I would have felt safe in calling Dr. Ardo’s party my own party and worked to build it in my areas of strength with my friends and allies, which is what I expected Dr. Ardo to do, as I have always considered him a political ally”.
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