Former presidential candidates in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso have officially joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Obi and Kwankwaso joined the NDC a few hours after they both dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
This was disclosed in a Sunday footage from the event showing the registration process. In the video, Kwankwaso was first presented with his membership card before Obi received his, indicating what appears to be their formal entry into the party.
The move comes amid ongoing political realignments among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Just hours earlier, both politicians held a closed-door meeting with leaders of the NDC at the Abuja residence of the party’s National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.
The meeting, which took place at Dickson’s residence in Guzape, is believed to be part of efforts to consolidate opposition forces and build a viable coalition ahead of the polls.
Speaking after picking up his membership card, Obi urged members of the NDC to shun litigation and internal disputes, warning that court battles could undermine efforts to build a viable political alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He stressed the need for unity and discipline, noting that internal legal conflicts have historically weakened political parties in Nigeria.
“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 the party so we can face the job of building a new Nigeria that is possible,” he said.
Obi framed his appeal within a broader vision of national transformation, arguing that political actors must prioritise institution-building over personal interests.
“We want to build a country where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. That is what we want to do,” he said.
