From ADC to NDC: Kwankwaso plot defection amid leadership crises

By Our Correspondent

Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is reportedly weighing a move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), with a decisive meeting of his inner circle as a major political realignment.

Sources indicate that Kwankwaso will meet key stakeholders at his Kano residence in what is being seen as a critical step toward formalising his potential defection to the emerging opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development follows a series of high-level engagements between the former governor and NDC leaders. Earlier in the week, he hosted a delegation of the party in Abuja, including its National Vice Chairman (North-West), Mohammed Bakin, who reportedly led efforts to persuade him to join the party.

While no official decision has been announced, consultations within the Kwankwasiyya movement have intensified. Its spokesperson, Habibu Mohammed, confirmed the meetings but maintained that discussions are still ongoing.

“It is true that they have met him… but this remains part of ongoing consultations,” he said, noting that other platforms, including the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), have also reached out to the former presidential candidate.

The move comes amid heightened opposition realignments, with parties seeking formidable alliances ahead of 2027. Speculation has also grown around a possible joint ticket between Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, following the emergence of the “OK Movement” by their supporters.

Adding to the momentum, the NDC’s official social media platforms have recently featured campaign-style messages promoting a potential Obi–Kwankwaso alliance, urging both leaders to align under the party.

Analysts say internal challenges within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including its lingering leadership dispute, may be influencing Kwankwaso’s consideration of alternative platforms despite recent judicial interventions.

With political tensions rising, attention is now focused on the outcome of the Kano meeting, which could signal a significant shift in Nigeria’s opposition landscape ahead of 2027.