Opposition Division Threatens Plans To Defeat APC.The division between opposition candidates is threatening the resolution reached at the Ibadan Summit to file a single candidate who will defeat the ruling APC in the forthcoming 2027 elections.
Kano—
The plans of opposition leaders to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming 2027 elections may suffer a major setback following the planned defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
Sources close to the coalition revealed that Obi and Kwankwaso’s planned defection was largely driven by growing concerns over the influence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar within the ADC, which is being adopted as the coalition’s main platform.
Atiku,a former Vice President and seasoned politician,is believed to be in a strong position to secure the party’s presidential ticket instead of Obi and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
The announced defection plans came barely a week after opposition leaders held a National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders in Ibadan,Oyo State,where they agreed to support a single candidate who will defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 Presidential election.
Opposition Division Threatens Plans To Defeat APC
The agreement was part of the nine resolutions contained in the communique read by the opposition leaders at the end of the summit.In the communiqué, titled, the “Ibadan Declaration,” the opposition said the move was necessary to “rescue the nation and suffering masses”.
Obi, Kwankwaso to exit ADC Monday
According to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Buba Galadima, Obi and Kwankwaso, alongside other key opposition coalition members, would announce a new political platform on Monday.
Speaking during a stakeholder meeting organized by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movements in Abuja,Galadima disclosed that the duo would defect on Monday but he did not specify the party they were joining.
Addressing journalists, Galadima warned supporters to brace for what he described as coordinated attacks and disruptions that could trail the announcement.
Opposition Division Threatens Plans To Defeat APC
“As from Monday, when our leaders declare on which platform they will run, I want to tell you that one of two things will happen. And I’m here to guide you on your response to what will determine that the order to preserve the status quo ante bellum could no longer stand once the relevant proceedings had been concluded, describing its continuation as both unnecessary and without legal basis” he said
” First, they will sponsor columnists. Two, they will deploy social media influencers to start attacking our candidates. For all of you who are on social media and those you with the mighty pen, you must be prepared to respond to anything they are going to say” he added
Also speaking at the event, Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, expressed support for the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance, describing it as a viable alternative.
“This time, I can tell you that we have already won in 28 out of 36 states. These 28 are already O-K. They are ready to vote. So it is up to them to say this time, you can’t steal our votes. And we have to be ready for that because it is easy to vote” he said
Opposition Division Threatens Plans To Defeat APC
“I am not a politician and don’t need to join your political party. But let me say that O-K (Obi-Kwankwaso) is okay for me. And I am ready to lead. In the last election in Lagos, I was the returning officer in Ibeju-Lekki. They came with so many things. But at the end of the day, the votes were so much that they couldn’t change the results” he stated
Reports from sources close to the former governors have revealed that Obi and Kwankwaso would join the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC,led by former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.
A source who spoke to Punch Newspaper said “Okpebolo lashed for threatening Obi , Kwankwaso and their chieftains were on the ground between yesterday (Friday) and this morning, signing relevant documents with Senator Dickson and the NDC leaders.
” We don’t want a repeat of what happened in the ADC. We discovered late that Atiku and his loyalists lured our leaders to that opposition party to fulfil only one single mission — Atiku’s presidential ambition” the source added
Opposition Division Threatens Plans To Defeat APC
“All is now set. Both Obi and Kwankwaso will announce their defection to the ADC on Monday” he reaffirms
The planned move follows weeks of speculation over the fate of the ADC stalwarts (Obi, Kwankwaso, Atiku)after the Supreme Court ruling on the ADC crisis.
The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the order to preserve the status quo ante bellum could no longer stand once the relevant proceedings had been concluded, describing its continuation as both unnecessary and without legal basis.
The apex court further upheld the appeal brought by the Mark-led faction and directed that the substantive case filed by aggrieved party member Nafiu Bala Gombe at the Federal High Court be heard promptly and decided on its merits.
Opposition Division Threatens Plans To Defeat APC
The Supreme Court decision not to pass verdict in favour of any of the factions has sent panic and uncertainty within members of the opposition as INEC deadline draws closer.
Analyst Speaks
A political analyst, Adebayo Abubakar, warned that deepening divisions, mutual suspicion and rising personal ambitions among opposition leaders could ultimately hand President Bola Tinubu an easy path to re-election in 2027.
Speaking in an interview with Central TV, Abubakar said ongoing political realignments involving key opposition figures such as Obi and Kwankwaso suggested that the opposition remained far from presenting a united front capable of challenging the ruling APC.
“If you look at what is happening within the opposition camp, the first thing that becomes obvious is the problem of mutual suspicion and the unwillingness of key actors to subordinate their personal ambitions to the collective goal of unseating the ruling party” he said
Opposition Division Threatens Plans To Defeat APC
” These movements you are talking about Obi, Kwankwaso and others considering different platforms only confirm that the opposition is still far from presenting a united front. Instead of consolidation, what we are seeing is further fragmentation, and that is dangerous for any opposition that is serious about taking power,” he added
Abubakar argued that while political realignments could be strategic, the current moves lack the structure and cohesion required to produce a formidable coalition.
“Realignment only works when there is a clear framework, shared ideology and a willingness to compromise. What we are seeing now is the opposite everyone is positioning themselves for personal advantage” he stated
Source Line
Sources include official statements, on-record interviews, public documents and verified reporting.
