Many top leaders of the African Democratic Congress, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are planning to defect to the National Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections, with sources close to Obi confirming that the move could happen “between now and next week,” as growing dissatisfaction with the ADC’s internal structure, rising legal uncertainties despite the Supreme Court’s judgment, and a running battle with the Atiku Abubakar faction over the presidential ticket have forced the opposition’s most prominent figures to seek what they describe as “a safer platform.”
The planned exodus, comes just two days after the Supreme Court set aside the status quo ante bellum order in the ADC leadership case, a ruling that was widely celebrated as a victory for the Mark-led ADC but which, upon closer examination, resolved nothing about the party’s substantive leadership dispute, left multiple lawsuits pending across different courts, and may ultimately prove to be what one ADC chieftain described as “postponing the evil day.”
The development also follows the Attorney-General of the Federation’s intervention in a suit seeking to deregister the ADC and four other parties, INEC’s May 10 deadline for submission of membership registers just eight days away, and what sources describe as an internal power struggle within the ADC coalition that has produced two competing tendencies: an Obi/Kwankwaso ticket versus an Atiku/Makinde or Atiku/Amaechi ticket.
Sources close to Peter Obi provided detailed reasons for the planned move.
“I can confirm to you that His Excellency Peter Obi has been consulting many of us who are stakeholders. And considering what is playing out in the ADC, the party seems to be designed and structured to favour an individual aspirant. They are also not ready to zone their presidential ticket to the South,” a source familiar with the development stated.
“If the party structure is skewed in favour of an aspirant, obviously that aspirant will win, and it will not amount to a credible primary election,” the source added.
The source cited the cascading legal crises as a further motivation: “If you look at the numerous litigations in the party and the crisis rocking it, His Excellency has concluded that the platform is not formidable for him to contest on.”
The source disclosed that Obi’s camp had already engaged with the NDC: “Recall that Obi promised his supporters and Nigerians that his name will be on the ballot. We have met with the NDC and they have promised an unchallenged presidential ticket for him to run in 2027.”
“All things being equal, in a couple of days between now and next week he is expected to dump the ADC for the NDC. It will be a massive move, and all his supporters are also expected to move with him to the NDC. That is what I know,” the source stated.
A second aide confirmed the plan: “From my findings and understanding, he is going to make this intention known to all Nigerians and take action in the coming days.”
Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, declined to confirm or deny the development when contacted but issued a carefully worded statement that neither closed the door on the ADC nor committed to it.
“I would neither confirm nor deny at the same time until such a pronouncement is made officially,” Tanko stated.
“What I want to tell Nigerians is that His Excellency Peter Obi has continuously been saying that he will be on the ballot to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I believe in him, and I want Nigerians to believe that as well,” Tanko added.
“What I said is clear: I said he will run on a platform. I did not say which platform,” Tanko stated, a formulation that conspicuously avoids naming the ADC as that platform.
The NDC Deputy Publicity Secretary, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, confirmed that discussions involving both Obi and Kwankwaso had been ongoing with the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson.
“The most I can tell you is that they have been interfacing with our leader for quite some time. Also, do not forget that there is a possibility of an alliance that has been under discussion for quite some time,” Abdulsalam stated.
“With the legal twist we are witnessing now, the legal uncertainties, I think there might be some credence to that. However, I cannot categorically confirm to you that it is true, but you should know that, to a very large extent, there is a possibility of it happening,” the NDC official added.
He went further: “Obi is most welcome in the party, not just him, even Kwankwaso too. They have discussed with our national leaders, so you should just watch out.”
In the most explicit statement yet, Abdulsalam disclosed: “We received their names about a month ago from the ADC. We are willing to give them the presidential ticket. We are willing to only Providence, except if Providence decides otherwise we are willing, and they will join us.”
The NDC had earlier publicly offered Obi and Kwankwaso a joint ticket with a two-week window to defect. “All we need right now — just all we need. Two weeks to deadline,” the party stated.
A “Unity Summit” themed “One Voice, One Vision, In Unity We Win” has been scheduled for May 2, 2026, at the Barcelona Hotel in Abuja, under the banner of the “Obi/Kwankwaso 2027 Movement.”
Speakers billed to address the summit include Alhaji Buba Galadima, Aisha Yesufu, Dr. Moses Paul, Mr. Isaac Fayose, Hon. John Ughulu, and Dr. Adebayo Adefolaseye, representing a cross-section of political activists and commentators aligned with the Obi-Kwankwaso tendency within the opposition.
The scheduling of a formal summit with its own branding, speaker lineup, and public announcement suggests the Obi/Kwankwaso alliance has advanced beyond informal consultations to organised political action, regardless of which party platform ultimately hosts the ticket.
Also, a key figure in the Kwankwasiyya movement in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, Hon. Kabiru Adamu Abdullahi, has resigned from the All Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a resignation letter dated May 1, 2026, and addressed to the party chairman in Kofar Ruwa Ward, Abdullahi said he was leaving the party with immediate effect.
“I hereby formally resign my membership of All Democratic Congress (ADC) at Kofar Ruwa Ward with immediate effect.
“I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me to be part of the party and wish you and the party the very best in your future endeavors.
“Kindly accept this as my official notice and communicate same to the appropriate authorities,” he said in the statement he shared on Facebook.
Abdullahi, who is a House of Assembly aspirant, is considered one of the prominent Kwankwasiyya leaders in Dala.
In a separate post on his Facebook page, he linked his decision to the directive of the movement’s leader.
“This is the order of Jagora,” he wrote, using the term members commonly used to refer to their leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In a development that signals the direction of travel, former Adamawa State governorship candidate Senator Aishatu Binani formally joined the NDC on Friday, just nine months after leaving the APC for the ADC.
“After carefully studying the party’s constitution, I saw a strong commitment to structured, policy-driven governance,” Binani stated.
She described her move as driven by her supporters: “My foremost priority has always been the interest of my supporters. About nine months ago, we collectively made the decision to join our former party. But over time, for reasons best known to them, my supporters felt it was necessary to move on.”
NDC National Leader Senator Dickson welcomed Binani and used the occasion to issue a broader invitation: “Let me extend an open invitation to all Nigerian political leaders who may have doubts about the viability, sustainability, and strength of their current political platforms. The NDC is open. We are ready to receive and work with you.”
