Kwankwaso, Obi Set For NDC Defection Amid ADC Crisis

Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alongside former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are set to defect to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) amid growing internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and ongoing opposition coalition realignment talks ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The planned defections, expected to take place next week, may also involve thousands of loyal supporters, lawmakers, and political associates aligned with both leaders as consultations intensify among opposition stakeholders seeking to build a formidable platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Sources familiar with the ongoing coalition negotiations disclosed that Kwankwaso has allegedly directed loyalists, political associates, and supporters who recently defected to the ADC from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to prepare to resign from the party ahead of the proposed movement to the NDC.

The latest development comes only weeks after Kwankwaso and several members of his political structure moved from the NNPP to the ADC as part of broader opposition coalition talks ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, insiders said escalating legal disputes, leadership uncertainty, and internal divisions within the ADC have forced the Kwankwasiyya Movement to reconsider its political future.

Sources close to the movement revealed that the decision to align with the NDC was reached after a strategic stakeholders’ meeting held at Kwankwaso’s Miller Road residence in Kano, where key loyalists reportedly endorsed the move unanimously.

There are also strong indications that both Kwankwaso and Obi may formally join the NDC in the coming days, with political insiders claiming discussions are advancing towards the possibility of an Obi-Kwankwaso joint presidential ticket for the 2027 polls, although neither politician has officially confirmed the arrangement.

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, talks between Kwankwaso’s bloc and the NDC have reached advanced stages, with only a few details left unresolved before a formal announcement is made.

Insiders also disclosed that lawmakers and political office holders who defected alongside Kwankwaso from the NNPP to the ADC are expected to resign from the ADC and formally align with the NDC once the movement is officially unveiled.

There are equally indications that consultations are ongoing with political figures believed to be loyal to Obi within the ADC coalition framework, as strategists work towards consolidating opposition forces under a single platform ahead of 2027.

Defending the proposed move, a prominent ally of Kwankwaso and senior figure within the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Dr Yusuf Kofarmata, said the ADC was battling multiple legal and structural challenges capable of threatening the party’s survival.

“ADC as a party is battling with so many crises. It will be a miracle for the party to survive the internal and external factors currently working against its unity and progress,” he reportedly said.

Kofarmata cited unresolved court cases involving disputes over party leadership, the nullification of congresses, and the party’s national convention by a Federal High Court, as well as fresh litigations in Kano challenging the legitimacy of party executives.

According to him, the legal uncertainties surrounding the ADC could ultimately affect the party’s eligibility to participate in the 2027 elections, drawing comparisons with the legal crisis that denied the APC participation in the 2019 Zamfara governorship election.

Another influential Kwankwasiyya leader, Shehu Wada Sagagi, also defended the planned defection, insisting that the movement carefully evaluated the risks confronting the ADC before arriving at its decision.

“In his wisdom, our leader and the movement agreed that going to the NDC is the best option because there are more dangerous legal threats against the ADC. We must look for a way out,” Sagagi reportedly stated.

The planned political movement has already begun triggering resignations at the grassroots level within Kano State.

A key Kwankwasiyya figure in Dala Local Government Area, Kabiru Adamu Abdullahi, confirmed his resignation from the ADC, citing directives from the movement’s leadership.

In a resignation letter dated May 1, 2026, and addressed to his ward chairman, Abdullahi announced his immediate exit from the party.

“I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me to be part of the party and wish you and the party the very best,” he stated.

In a separate statement shared on social media, Abdullahi linked his decision directly to directives from Kwankwaso, popularly referred to by supporters as “Jagora.”

Meanwhile, sources disclosed that some coalition leaders are making last-minute efforts to halt the looming defections amid fears that another major political movement could destabilise the fragile opposition alliance currently taking shape ahead of the 2027 Presidential Elections

Despite the interventions, insiders familiar with the discussions said the planned movement appears increasingly inevitable, especially after reports emerged that Kwankwaso’s bloc recently held a crucial meeting with NDC leaders to finalise discussions on the proposed defection and coalition structure.

Spokesman of the Kwankwasoyya Movement, Habibu Mohammed, told a notable online publication that his principal, Dr Kwankwaso was pulling out of ADC alongside Obi nest week.