The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has denied confirming the defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing recent reports as speculative. Abdulmumin Ohiare Abdulsalam, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, stated on Saturday that his earlier comments about the possible movement of Obi and Kwankwaso were based on political probability, not confirmed developments. He accused some media platforms of misrepresenting his remarks, creating the impression that the defections had already occurred. "My recent response to an inquiry regarding the possibility of defections by Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Mr Peter Gregory Obi dwelt more on probability rather than certainty," Abdulsalam said. The NDC clarified that while it remains open to receiving politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties, no official agreement has been reached with either Obi or Kwankwaso. The party described itself as a movement committed to rescuing Nigeria and invited dissatisfied politicians to join its cause. Abdulsalam noted that discussions with key opposition figures, including members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are ongoing. The NDC confirmed that consultations among opposition parties about forming a broader alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections are still in progress. However, the party emphasized that no final decision has been made on any high-profile defection, including those involving Obi or Kwankwaso.
The NDC's swift backtracking on its own statement exposes the fragility of opposition narratives built on speculation rather than structure. By framing political possibilities as near-certainties, its spokesperson created a media frenzy that the party then had to contain. If the goal was to position the NDC as a viable alternative, the episode risks revealing it as prone to self-inflicted confusion. Without confirmed alliances or clear membership shifts, the party's claims of building a united front appear premature.
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