Obi, Kwankwaso Formally Declare for NDC, Set Stage for 2027 Presidential Battle

Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso formally registered as members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday in Abuja, ending weeks of speculation and setting the stage for a 2027 presidential bid on a brand-new platform.

The declaration came after a marathon closed-door meeting at the residence of former Bayelsa State governor and NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson. Both men were issued NDC membership cards at a public ceremony shortly after.

The move shuts the door on weeks of speculation that followed their exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where internal disputes and leadership wrangling had hollowed out the platform’s readiness for 2027.

“We came here to consult with the leadership of this party on our ideology, our blueprint and what we believe in. We discovered that we are on the same page, particularly in the areas of education, youth empowerment, security and national unity,” Kwankwaso told supporters after the registration.

Obi framed the move as a response to political dysfunction. “We are here to be part of a family that is committed to building a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria that works for everyone. We want to move the country forward by investing in education, healthcare and lifting people out of poverty,” he said.

He also took a swipe at the courtroom culture that has paralysed Nigerian opposition parties. “We are pleading with all stakeholders — party members and even the judiciary — to help reduce unnecessary litigation in political parties. We want to focus on building a viable platform, not on endless court cases.”

Several other heavyweights followed Obi and Kwankwaso into the NDC, including Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Kabir Marafa, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, Senator Kabir Gaya, Rep Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, Rep Victor Ogene, and former IPAC chairman Chief Peter Ameh.

The timing isn’t accidental. INEC has set May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit updated membership registers, and aspirants who want to be on the 2027 ballot must be registered with a recognised platform. The Supreme Court ruling last Thursday — which left both ADC and PDP on shaky legal ground — has set off a realignment scramble across the entire opposition.

The Presidency wasted no time hitting back, dismissing Obi as a “political nomad” with “puerile and illogical” reasons for the move. The APC weighed in to accuse him of seeking an easy presidential ticket. ADC stalwart Salihu Lukman, in a separate statement, cautioned Kwankwaso that joining Obi at the NDC would diminish his political standing.

Whether the NDC can absorb this influx of high-profile names and convert them into a credible challenge in 2027 is the open question. What’s no longer open is which platform Obi and Kwankwaso will be running on.

Sources: ThisDay, Vanguard, Punch