May 03, (THEWILL) — Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alongside former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have formally joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) amid intensifying political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
The two opposition leaders were formally received into the party on Sunday after a closed-door meeting held at the Abuja residence of the National Leader of the NDC and former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.
As part of the formal admission process, both Obi and Kwankwaso were presented with their official NDC membership cards, confirming their entry into the party.
THEWILL gathered that the meeting, which took place at Dickson’s residence in Guzape, attracted party leaders, political associates, coalition loyalists and supporters of both Obi and Kwankwaso, popularly aligned under the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, also known as the “OK Movement”.
The event witnessed jubilant scenes as supporters chanted solidarity songs and repeatedly sang “O-K is okay” while the two politicians arrived at the venue.
Kwankwaso appeared in his trademark white babanriga and red-and-white Kwankwasiyya cap, while Obi was dressed in a black kaftan with a matching cap.
Present at the gathering was the National Chairman of the NDC, Moses Cleopas, alongside senior party officials and supporters who welcomed both leaders into the party.
Party leaders described the formal entry of Obi and Kwankwaso into the NDC as evidence of growing national confidence in the party and its expanding political influence across the country.
According to insiders at the meeting, discussions focused on coalition-building efforts, opposition unity and strategies to strengthen the NDC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The development comes only hours after Obi announced his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing worsening internal crisis, political hostility and external interference allegedly undermining opposition parties.
It also comes barely 24 hours after elder statesman and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, hinted that two major opposition figures would unveil a new political platform.
Galadima had made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement in Abuja, where he warned supporters to prepare for political attacks and propaganda campaigns targeted at the emerging alliance.
Sunday’s formal defection is expected to significantly reshape opposition politics ahead of 2027, especially as coalition talks intensify among parties and political blocs seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
THEWILL further gathered that several lawmakers, political associates and supporters loyal to both leaders are expected to formally align with the NDC in the coming days as consultations continue nationwide.
Meanwhile, party leaders at the event expressed optimism that the entry of Obi and Kwankwaso into the NDC would strengthen efforts to build a broad-based national political platform capable of offering Nigerians an alternative leadership direction ahead of the next general elections.
Shortly after he and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso received membership cards of the party from the National Chairman, Cleopas, Obi appealed for unanimity among members.
Fearing possible litigations ahead for the party, Obi, while addressing members appealed for unity and loyalty.
“Please let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party, we are not lawyers. We are pleading with the judiciary. Please end cases in party so we can face the job of building a new Nigeria that is possible,” he said, adding that, “We want to build a country where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. That is what we want to do.”
THEWILL recalls that the founder of the party and Dr Umar Ardo of the unregistered political association, All Democratic Alliance, ADA, had recently alleged that the NDC did not participate in the process for registering new political parties, threatening to go to court and seek redress against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He rejected INEC’s claims that NDC was registered based on a court order, and demanded to see the certified true copy of any such court order.
“For a court to give such an order, there must have been submissions and INEC must have been served and represented. We intend to obtain the certified true copies of the court processes from the Federal High Court in Lokoja to understand what transpired,” he added.
He stressed that it was prepared to go to the Supreme Court to get justice to demonstrate its pursuit of fairness and due process.
In his reaction, Senator Dickson said Dr Ardo lied.
According to him, 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.
Arguing that the process to register the party began in 2017 but was stalled due to a suspension of party registrations by INEC, Dickson said the process stalled because INEC, under Dr. Mahmood Yakubu, halted the registration of political parties.
According to him, when INEC eventually lifted the embargo, the commission initially rejected the party’s application over its proposed logo.
“We were told our logo, the two-finger sign, was similar to that of the APC broom. This was shocking to us,” he said, adding that, “We went to court over this unlawful exclusion, and the court enforced our rights to freedom of association, deemed us registered and directed INEC to register us. INEC did not and has not appealed this judgment, and the period of appeal has elapsed. No one, except INEC, has the locus standi to appeal.”
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