ADC crisis: Obi, Kwankwaso plan exit to NDC Monday

Barring any last minute change, key figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would exit the party on Monday following a pending leadership dispute at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Buba Galadima, a prominent figure in the ADC, disclosed that former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso are set to exit the party on Monday ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Galadima spoke on Saturday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement in Abuja. Although he did not name the new platform, sources said talks with the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), one of the newly registered political parties has reached advanced stage.

According to INEC timetable for the 2027 polls, parties are mandated to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

Prominent figures in the Kwankwasiyya movement have defended the planned defection, citing lingering crisis within the ADC.

An ally of Kwankwaso and a leader in the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Dr. Yusuf Kofarmata, said the party was battling multiple legal and structural challenges that could undermine its 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 said.

Galadima warned that the Supreme Court judgement delivered earlier in the week could effectively derail the ambitions of aspirants seeking to contest on the platform of the ADC, describing it as a calculated move aimed at weakening opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The Supreme Court judgements that were delivered on Thursday, to any discerning mind, were a trap set for the ADC, to which most of us here belong.

“You are at the Supreme Court, and the court tells you to go back to the court of first instance, the High Court. You file your brief, your opponent files theirs, the court sets a date, can that process be concluded before the end of May?

“If it cannot, and judgement is not delivered within that timeframe, can the ADC have a candidate? We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that it is not possible. That is why some of us believe we must begin to look for alternatives.

“In exploring other options, we discovered that in one of the parties we considered, they had already planted two presidential aspirants to make consensus impossible. That is one challenge.

“The second option, direct primaries, is practically impossible for any political party in this country, including the APC. The difference, however, is that those in power can compel people to step down for their preferred candidates.

“You cannot realistically conduct direct primaries in over 8,000 wards nationwide. Even if you attempt it, security agencies and hired thugs can be deployed to disrupt the process, ensuring that the opposition is unable to produce a candidate.

“So, the dream of having a single candidate for the presidency, and even for some governorship positions, would then be realised. They think we are fools. Meanwhile, the other party we are considering has already concluded plans to head to court as early as Monday to stop us from joining them,”Galadima.added.

Despite the challenges, Galadima expressed confidence that opposition leaders would find a way forward.

“I assure you that if you place your trust in us as leaders, we will find a way to ensure that we are on the ballot. I am certain that our opponents are also strategising, especially as from Monday, when our leaders are expected to declare the platform on which they will run,” he added.

On the reported exit of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the ADC, Galadima said that such developments were part of a broader political realignment, though he maintained that consultations were ongoing.

Also speaking, activist Aisha Yesufu called for unity across ethnic and regional lines, urging Nigerians to prioritise national interest.

“We must see ourselves first as Nigerians, not divided along ethnic lines. Our voices and opportunities should be used to uplift others. Unity is critical if the country is to move forward,” she said.