Two prominent opposition figures, Mr Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Sunday, formally defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
NewsBits recalls that both leaders announced their exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), earlier in the day. The former governors completed their registration and received membership cards at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Sunday.
The duo is speculated to be the preferred choice for the presidential ticket on the NDC platform. Speaking after the defection, National Leader of the ADC, Senator Seriake Dickson, described both men as the biggest political brands.
The former Bayelsa state governor, who said NDC is the fastest-rising political movement, noted that the duo’s influence was evident in the massive enthusiasm that trailed their appearance, even without a formal mobilisation.
“Your Excellencies and members of your entourage, I welcome you—even though you did not come with a crowd. But you are both the personification of a crowd, and the crowd has followed you here,” he said.
He used the occasion to position the NDC as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape, emphasising its rapid growth and internal cohesion. Meanwhile, Obi has asked the President Tinubu government not to come to the NDC. Apparently referring to the crisis in the ADC, Obi asked the government to allow them to build the party.
“We want to pull people out of poverty because we want to build a country where a child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. “We are using this occasion to plead with the government of today, you know that I contested the election in LP, Kwankwaso contested the election in a different party…. the leader has already told us their destination, and we are building with them. Respect our democracy, please don’t come here.
“We are pleading with you, don’t come here, we are pleading with you that we want to have peace, we want to build the party. We don’t want cases; we are pleading with the judiciary to end cases in parties. Please let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party; we are not lawyers.”
