The Nigeria Democratic Congress is battling an internal crisis following the defection of former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, party sources said.
Nigerian Newssphere report that before Obi’s defection on Sunday, the NDC had fixed its state congresses for May 4, 2026.
But, party insiders warn of possible parallel congresses, alleging that supporters of the new entrants are already attempting to take control of the party’s leadership structure.
A source within the party told Nigerian Newssphere that tensions are rising as the congresses commence.
The source hinted that the sudden influx of Obi and Kwankwaso loyalists is threatening internal stability.
He also accused the new members of creating avoidable conflicts that could later be blamed on external forces, including the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The states’ congresses will begin today, but Peter Obi and Kwankwaso supporters want to hijack the process barely hours after joining the party. It is terrible. At the end of the day, they would blame President Tinubu for the internal crisis that they caused,” he said.
Worsening the situation are earlier reports involving the party’s National Legal Adviser, Barrister Reuben Egwuaba, who is alleged to hold two membership in both the NDC and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), a violation under Nigeria’s revised electoral laws.
Obi had officially left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Sunday, on account of undue external influence, while Kwankwaso over the weekend directed his supporters to align with the NDC.
The defections have attracted mixed reactions across the political circle.
Former Bayelsa State governor Seriake Dickson welcomed the move, describing it as a boost for the party. In contrast, former Kaduna senator Shehu Sani argued that the development could ultimately favor President Tinubu’s chances of re-election in 2027.
Observers note that the withdrawal of Obi and Kwankwaso from the ADC has disrupted earlier efforts by opposition figures to form a united front against the ruling government.
Key figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi had, in March 2025, rallied around a coalition aimed at unseating Tinubu.
