Opposition realignment gathers pace as NDC woos Obi, Kwankwaso ahead of 2027 deadline

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has stepped up moves to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general election, reaching out to Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso with an offer to defect and clinch its presidential ticket within a tight two-week window.

The party made its intentions clear in a Sunday post on X, signalling urgency as key electoral deadlines draw closer. “All we need right now. Just all we need. Two weeks to the deadline,” it wrote, alongside an image of Obi and Kwankwaso shaking hands, captioned “Nigeria will be OK.” The message has further fuelled speculation about a possible alliance between the two political heavyweights.

Both Obi and Kwankwaso are prominent figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party currently mired in a leadership crisis that threatens its preparedness for the 2027 contest.

The duo were also part of opposition stakeholders who converged in Ibadan, where discussions centred on presenting a unified presidential candidate to challenge the ruling establishment.

Talk of a joint ticket has gained traction in recent weeks, particularly following the launch of the “OK Movement” by supporters of both men. The initiative is designed to mobilise grassroots backing for a potential Obi–Kwankwaso candidacy and has already begun forming structures at national, zonal and state levels, according to its publicity secretary, Justin Ijeh.

The unfolding political drama comes as the ADC battles internal divisions that could determine its future. On April 22, the Supreme Court of Nigeria reserved judgment in a protracted leadership dispute between a faction led by former Senate President David Mark and another headed by Nafiu Bala. The ruling is expected to clarify control of the party structure ahead of primaries.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed May 30, 2026, as the deadline for submission of membership registers and nomination of candidates, effectively compressing the timeline for opposition parties to organise primaries and build viable coalitions.

The schedule has drawn criticism from opposition blocs. Factions within the ADC, alongside groups in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have called on INEC to extend the deadline for primaries to the end of July.

They argue that the timetable places them at a strategic disadvantage, particularly as internal disputes and coalition talks continue to reshape the opposition landscape.