*Obi Tasks Members On Litigation-Free Politics
*Accuses Tinubu Govt Of Interference In Other Parties
*Presidency Taunts Obi As Political Nomad Over ADC Exit
THE Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Sunday, May 3, formally joined the fledging Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), after dumping the crisis-ridden African Democratic Congress ADC).
Obi had joined the ADC in December last year from the LP, while Kwankwaso defected from the NNPP in April this year.
Both the former Anambra State governor and his Kano State counterpart, during their formal reception into the party ahead of next year’s general elections, urged members to avoid litigation and focus on advancing the country’s development.
The two opposition heavyweights made the call on Sunday in Abuja .
Obi, while addressing party leaders and supporters, said their joining NDC was driven by the need for a peaceful political platform devoid of internal crises.
He stated: “First of all, sincerely, I join in thanking the leader of our party, and I assure him that we are coming here to be part of the peaceful family that will work hard to build a united, secure, prosperous Nigeria that will work for everybody.
“Kwankwaso is also a leader who has been at the forefront of education, providing primary care and putting people out of poverty, because we want to build a country where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. That is what we want to do.”
Obi accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of fuelling persistent crises within opposition parties, leading to endless litigation that forced him and others to abandon their former platforms, noting that their hope for stability was quickly tested by unresolved disputes in every new party.
“The government of today has ensured that they put up crisis upon crisis, which led to several lawsuits in our parties that made us abandon those parties and move to another party, thinking that our situation would abate.
“But what we saw was a carry-over of the same problem from where we came from, similar unresolved crisis, litigations and everything.
“Today, we have left that place to NDC, where the leader has already assured us that they have no litigation. So, we are pleading with them, for the sake of democracy, please, don’t come here. We want to have peace. We don’t want cases.
“We are equally pleading with the Judiciary to please end the cases with parties, so we can face the job of building a new Nigeria that is possible and face the job of revival, where our country is deteriorating today.
“We want to start building. Please, let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party. Those of us who are lawyers want you to be good practitioners. We don’t want to spend our time in litigation and fighting ourselves. Let’s spend our time dealing with issues affecting the ordinary Nigerian.
“This ship is about to sail. Please do everything possible to join.”
On his part, Kwankwaso said their engagement with the NDC leadership showed strong alignment in ideology and governance priorities, particularly in education, youth empowerment and national unity.
According to him: “We came here together with our team to consult His Excellency, the leader of this party, on our ideology, blueprint and all that we believe in, especially my humble self and His Excellency, Peter Obi.
“We realised that we are all on the same page, be it education, empowerment of young men and women, security, and of course, a very peaceful, united Nigeria.
“During the discussion, we realised that the NDC is submitting its register, I think on May 6. Now, at this point, I would like to invite all Nigerians, including our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, especially those who are interested in contesting elections in this party, to register as soon as possible.
“Now that we have realised that we only have a couple of days to register, we have decided that all of us will register, by the grace of God, today.
“Once again, I want all of us who are here, those who believe in us and who believe in promoting the peace and the progress of this country, to register with the NDC.”
The former Defence minister urged his supporters, especially the Kwakansiyya Movement, and former NNPP members to align with the new platform.
The new entrants received their NDC membership cards amid cheers from supporters, shortly after a closed-door meeting with the party leaders.
A former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Aishatu Dahiru (Binani), had earlier described Obi and Kwakwanso as influential figures with strong grassroots appeal, adding: “Our party has officially received very good politicians and renowned national leaders, who are household names in this country, especially amongst the youth and women. We are proud of you.
“Incidentally, youth and women are the bedrocks of our party support. The NDC is a symbol of democratic tenets, fairness, equity and justice. That is the reason why it is different from others.”
Welcoming the new members, National Leader of the party, a former governor of Bayelsa State and senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, Henry Seriake Dickson, said the entry of Obi and Kwankwaso reinforced the party’s growing national appeal.
He stated: “On behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC), teeming members of our party and well-meaning Nigerians, I welcome you both to the party.
“We were told you are not coming here with the crowd today. But both of you are personifications of the crowd. As you can see, the crowd has followed you here. This party does not know what is called ‘status quo ante bellum.’
“Let me assure you that the two of you are part of the biggest brands in our political history. We trust and believe you. The Nigerian people know what you are bringing on board. There will be enough time for the campaign when we will also unveil the political process of the party.”
Dickson said NDC represents an ideological movement anchored on integrity, transparency and inclusive governance, with a strong focus on youth and women’s participation.
The defectors had earlier held a closed-door meeting at Dickson’s Abuja residence, where both leaders finalised their entry into the party.
Obi and Kwankwaso arrived about 5:18p.m. to chants of “O-K is okay” from supporters under the aegis Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, including former Kano APC governorship candidate, Nasiru Gawuna; Binani; former Zamfara senator, Kabir Marafa; and Senator Victor Umeh.
Obi had in a post on his X handle on Sunday, clarified that his decision to leave ADC was not driven by personal grievances with key party leaders, adding: “Let me state clearly: My decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them.”
He stated that his decision was due to recurring internal conflicts and external pressures that were beginning to mirror the challenges he previously encountered in the LP, such as persistent court cases, internal divisions and an atmosphere of suspicion, which he lamented were diverting attention from critical national issues.
According to him: “The same Nigerian State and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion and division, instead of focusing on deeper national problems and playing politics built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building.
“Even within spaces where one labours sincerely, one is sometimes treated like an outsider in one’s own home. You and your team become easy targets for every failure, frustration or misunderstanding, as though honest contribution has become a favour being tolerated rather than appreciated.
“And when you choose to leave, so that those you are leaving can have peace, and you step out into the cold, you are still maligned and your character is questioned.
“Despite all your efforts to continue working for a better Nigeria and engaging people with sincerity and goodwill, those who do not wish you well continue to attack your character.”
Meanwhile, his supporters, under the aegis of Obidient Movement Worldwide, have reaffirmed their support for him, insisting that attempts to weaken his political influence have instead strengthened his grassroots appeal ahead of the elections.
In a post on X on Sunday, its Interim National Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, said Obi’s appeal continues to grow across the country, despite sustained attempts to frustrate his political ambitions.
Tanko said the movement remained committed to Obi’s political future, as it could be observedin the growing grassroots mobilisation in his favour, with the emergence of new support structures across different regions, a reflection of sustained public interest in Obi’s political project.
The poilitician dismissed claims that opposition to Obi’s was weakening his support base, insisting: “We stand with Peter Obi. In all their efforts to stop HE, PO, from running for the office of President of Nigeria, his popularity keeps increasing.
“Stand with Peter Obi. We are confident in our message of political reform and national renewal. A New Nigeria is Possible.”
In its reaction to the develoment, the Presidency and APC described Obi as a political nomad.
Special Adviser to President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on his X handle, dismissed Obi’s reasons given for leaving ADC as self-serving, urging Nigerians to ignore what he described as “illogical musings” in Obi’s statement.
Onanuga accused the former governor of avoiding a contest for ADC’s presidential ticket against figures, such as Atiku and former Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
He stated: “We told you so. The political nomad is on the move again. Ignore all those puerile reasons he gave in these illogical musings, a self-serving letter to his mob.
“Peter Obi is a politician made of jelly, an opportunistic fellow. He can’t fight Atiku or Amaechi for the ticket of ADC. He pursues the easy road, which will only lead him to doom, like in 2023.
“He always blames the government without doing a soul-searching of himself. Welcome, Peter, to the 2027 race.”
The ruling party, on its part, accused Obi of frequently changing party platforms, instead of contributing to long-term party development.
APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in a post on his X handle on Sunday, questioned Obi’s pattern of political affiliations ahead of the next general elections, referencing his past associations with several political parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, LP and ADC.
Morka said political stability requires sustained commitment to party structures, saying constant movement undermines efforts at internal party consolidation, as effective political leadership is built through consistent participation and development within a single platform, rather than repeated transitions.
Obi and Kwankwaso movement into the party has sparked defections of their supporters to NDC, including Kabir Gaya, Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, Victor Ogene, former IPAC Chairman, Peter Ameh, Babatunde Alli and Mohammed Sani Yahaya, NNPP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Taraba State.
