NDC: Peter Obi emerges as sole presidential aspirant

Former Labor Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is set to emerge as the presidential flagbearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after becoming the only aspirant to purchase the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development comes as cracks deepen within Nigeria’s opposition bloc following the collapse of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition that initially brought together Obi, former vice president Atiku Abubakar and former Kano state governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

NDC ends sale of presidential forms

The NDC officially closed the sale of forms for the presidential race on Sunday, extending the deadline for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and state Assembly aspirants by a week.

In a statement released by the party’s national secretary, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the new deadline for other elective positions has been moved from May 17 to May 24, 2026.

The party said screening of aspirants will begin on May 19 and end on May 26, while collection and submission of nomination forms for qualified candidates will take place between May 20 and 26.

The aspirants were asked to appear before the screening panels with relevant documents including academic certificates, voter ID cards, birth certificates or age declarations, passport photographs, curriculum vitae and party membership cards.

According to the NDC, the screening exercise would focus on competence, integrity, public acceptability and local political realities, while reflecting the party’s affirmative action policy for women, youth and people living with disabilities.

The ADC coalition suffers a major setback

Obi’s emergence as the sole presidential aspirant followed months of internal disagreements that weakened the ADC coalition formed to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling APC in 2027.

The coalition had initially attracted nationwide attention after key opposition figures moved toward a united platform aimed at preventing a repeat of the divided opposition votes seen during the 2023 presidential election.

However, disagreements over party structure, leadership control, zoning agreements, and the choice of a consensus presidential candidate would trigger new tensions within the alliance.

Political observers noted that the failure of coalition leaders to resolve internal disputes ultimately led to a wave of defections that destabilized the agreement.

Obi, Kwankwaso exit ADC

Obi formally dumped the ADC earlier this month, citing persistent internal crises and lack of cohesion within the coalition.

Sources close to the former Anambra governor said Obi became increasingly uncomfortable with what he saw as prolonged internal battles and uncertainty over the future direction of the coalition.

Shortly after Obi’s exit, Kwankwaso also aligned himself with the NDC movement, a development that further weakened the ADC coalition and fueled speculation of a new political alliance between the two politicians.

Their departure was widely interpreted as a blow to opposition efforts to present a united front against the APC in the next presidential elections.

The Obi-Kwankwaso alliance attracts attention

The growing relationship between Obi and Kwankwaso has continued to attract national attention, especially among opposition supporters seeking a stronger alternative ahead of 2027.

Both politicians remain influential figures with strong grassroots followings in different regions of the country.

Obi retains significant support among young people and urban voters, while Kwankwaso continues to exert political influence in Kano and parts of northern Nigeria through the Kwankwasiyya movement.

Analysts believe their partnership within the NDC could reshape opposition politics if both camps manage to consolidate their support bases before the elections.

The NDC positions itself as the third emerging force

Following the defection of Obi and Kwankwaso, the NDC continued to attract politicians and supporters from the Labor Party, NNPP, ADC and internal factions of the PDP.

The party projected itself as a platform focused on institutional reforms, accountability and national unity, while seeking to capitalize on growing divisions within existing opposition parties.

With the sale of presidential forms now concluded and Obi the sole candidate, indications are growing that the former Anambra governor may emerge unchallenged as the consensus presidential candidate of the NDC for the 2027 elections.