Former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Musa Kwankwaso are reportedly set to defect from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). This move comes amidst growing disagreements over the opposition coalition strategy for the upcoming 2027 presidential election and significant internal strife within the ADC. Both politicians, key figures in ongoing opposition coalition talks, had previously run for president under the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) respectively in the 2023 elections.

Multiple sources confirm that the decision to leave the ADC stems largely from the party's unresolved internal power struggle and a complex legal landscape. A recent Supreme Court ruling failed to settle the leadership crisis, instead referring the case back to the Federal High Court. For the Obi and Kwankwaso camps, the prospect of waiting for a lengthy legal resolution was deemed too risky, especially with crucial Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadlines for the submission of membership registers fast approaching. Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya movement, described the ADC’s legal environment as "too murky for comfort," stating that remaining in the party would amount to "waiting for Godot" due to three pending cases at the federal high court.

Mohammed confirmed the planned defection to TheCable, revealing that the decision was "sealed" after a gathering of stakeholders at Kwankwaso’s Kano residence on Friday. Representatives from all 44 local government areas in Kano unanimously endorsed the move. Discussions with the NDC are reportedly "about 90 percent" complete, with the formal defection scheduled for Monday or Tuesday. Kwankwaso, currently in Kano, is expected to return to Abuja by Sunday in anticipation of the move.

This development is a setback for the ADC, occurring amid broader efforts by opposition figures to forge a unified front for the 2027 elections. Leaders from 14 political parties had recently agreed in Ibadan on the necessity of presenting a single presidential candidate to avoid the fragmentation observed in 2023. However, both Kwankwaso and Obi are understood to be uncomfortable with the outcome of the Ibadan declaration, expressing concerns about the process through which any eventual consensus candidate would emerge. The shift to the NDC signifies a preference for a more stable platform, free from the entanglements of leadership tussles.

While the NDC has been chosen as the preferred platform, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) was also considered during the stakeholder deliberations. The swift and decisive action by Obi and Kwankwaso’s camps highlights the urgency felt by political actors to secure a viable platform ahead of the looming election cycle, emphasizing a strategic realignment designed to navigate the complexities of Nigerian electoral politics.