Two of Nigeria’s leading opposition figures, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, have switched to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in a major political shake-up ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to BBC, the move raises the possibility of a joint presidential ticket to challenge incumbent Bola Tinubu, although both politicians have yet to confirm who would lead such an alliance.

Obi and Kwankwaso, who placed third and fourth respectively in the 2023 election, had previously aligned with African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. However, that coalition was short-lived, collapsing amid internal disputes and legal battles over party leadership.

Speaking after their formal reception at the NDC headquarters in Abuja by party leader Seriake Dickson, both men emphasised unity and the need to reposition Nigeria’s opposition.

Obi blamed persistent crises within opposition parties on external interference, saying similar disruptions that affected his time in the Labour Party had resurfaced in the ADC. Allies of President Tinubu have rejected those claims.

Supporters argue the new alignment could strengthen opposition efforts by consolidating Obi’s strong backing among younger voters in southern Nigeria with Kwankwaso’s influence across the north.

Political analyst Bala Yusuf, speaking to the BBC, said a combined ticket could significantly alter the electoral landscape, giving the ruling All Progressives Congress a serious contest.

Nigeria is set to hold its next general election in early January 2027, marking the eighth electoral cycle since the end of military rule in 1999.