2027: Obi, Kwankwaso Dump ADC For NDC

.Say external forces, uncertainties, betrayal causes of movement

Two political big wigs and erstwhile members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, former governors Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday dumped the ADC for the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

The NDC leader, Senator Seriake Dickson reportedly announced the defections during a press conference in Abuja, which was attended by both politicians, yesterday.

Both politicians blamed external forces, uncertainties and betrayal as causes of their deflection.

Obi, a former Anambra Governor, while announcing his exit from ADC cited worsening internal crises, external interference and growing hostility within party structures.

He made the disclosure in a statement issued on his behalf by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem, on Sunday in Abuja.

Obi described Nigeria’s political environment as increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and persistent scrutiny against individuals committed to sincere public service.

He lamented that institutions established to protect citizens now often work against them, while those pursuing genuine leadership faced pressure publicly and privately.

Clarifying his decision, Obi said his departure was not driven by personal grievances with party leaders, including David Mark and Atiku Abubakar.

“Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because of our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“It is not as well that any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them,” he said.

He maintained that he has respect for both leaders, but cited internal division, legal disputes and the infiltration of destabilising forces within ADC.

According to Obi, the challenges mirror similar crises he previously encountered in the Labour Party, making meaningful political engagement increasingly difficult.

Obi, the presidential candidate of LP in 2023 dumped the party on February 14 this year and thereafter, joined ADC.

He also decried a societal culture where integrity, humility and due process were frequently mistaken for weakness rather than strength.

Obi expressed concern that sincere efforts toward nation-building were being undermined by suspicion, exclusion and political manoeuvres driven more by control.

He reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s progress, stressing that citizens’ welfare remained his overriding priority.

He highlighted insecurity, poverty and displacement as pressing national concerns, insisting that his ambition was not to hold political office, but a just society.

It had earlier been reported that Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, was considering defection from the ADC following the recent disputes rocking the party.

Kwankwaso in a statement on Saturday, addressing what he described as “misleading narratives” in the public domain about leaving the ADC, said that ongoing discussions about a possible realignment within the party over its crisis were premature.

Kwankwaso drew parallels between the ADC’s current predicament and the circumstances that led to his exit from the NNPP.

“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous. The ADC has now also been forced into this difficulty,” Kwankwaso had said.

“It was the same attitude that led to the defection of Gov. Ahmed Yusuf of Kano State to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“ forgot the Memorandum of Association the party entered with the Kwankwasiya Movement in the build up to the 2023 general elections.

“The contract of agreement was for the purposes of the 2023 general elections ,which enabled Kwankwaso to contest the presidential election and other elective positions among its members at no cost.

“Kwankwaso came a very distant fourth after President Tinubu, Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi. However, his members under the platform of Kwankwasiya movement as members of NNPP won the governorship and other elective positions in Kano state.

“Unfortunately, Kwankwaso could not manage the success in Kano, leading to mass defection of NNPP members to the APC.

“The worst of his misconduct against the NNPP was the illegal conversion of the original logo and colour symbol of the party, including mutilation of our constitution without the consent of its founding fathers. Was this also externally influenced”@ Aniebonam queried.

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