On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso officially walked away from the ADC to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). While the official press releases talk about “internal crises” and “litigation,” ADC allowed itself to be hijacked by the insatiable, era-spanning greed of Atiku Abubakar.
For months, Nigerians watched as a “super-alliance” formed within the ADC. It was supposed to be the dream team: Obi, Atiku, Kwankwaso, El-Rufai, and other formidable members. But instead of a unified front to rescue a gasping nation, the ADC became a playground for old-guard ego. By refusing to step aside and crown Peter Obi, the only man with the organic, nationwide fire to actually topple the current establishment, Atiku Abubakar has once again proven that he would rather rule over a fractured opposition than serve under a victorious one.
The Sabotage of the “Third Force”
When Peter Obi joined the ADC in December 2025, he did so with the hope of building a “stronger opposition platform”. He brought with him the “Obidient” energy that redefined Nigerian politics in 2023. He was, and remains, the most formidable opponent of the status quo.
However, the ADC quickly devolved into a mess of “leadership disputes and multiple court litigations”. Sources close to the negotiations suggest the friction was simple: Atiku and his camp were unwilling to yield the top of the ticket. Despite Atiku’s repeated failures at the polls, he and his inner circle continued to play power games, stalling decision-making and weakening the party’s cohesion.
The greed for the presidency, held by men who have spent decades chasing it, has effectively killed the ADC’s chance of being a viable alternative. Peter Obi was pushed out by a lack of “shared vision”. He realized that staying in the ADC meant spending the next year in court fighting Atiku’s factions instead of fighting for the Nigerian people.
The Rise of the NDC
By moving to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Obi and Kwankwaso are passing a message: the mission is more important than the brand. Under the leadership of Seriake Dickson, the NDC is positioning itself as the “fastest-growing” and “most stable” party in the country.
Crucially, Dickson emphasized that the NDC has “no faction” and “no litigation”. This is a direct jab at the ADC, which has become a graveyard of ambition thanks to internal warring. Obi’s plea to his supporters was telling: “Please, let there be no litigation… we don’t want to spend our time fighting ourselves”. He is exhausted by the politics of yesterday and is looking for a platform that actually functions.
Atiku’s Ego is Tinubu’s Best Friend
Let’s call this what it is. Atiku Abubakar’s refusal to act as a kingmaker is the greatest gift he could ever give to the current administration. By insisting on his own relevance within the ADC, he fractured the most potent opposition alliance we’ve seen in years. Peter Obi is the only candidate who transcends tribal and religious lines in a way that truly scares the current administration. To not give him the ticket, to force him into a position where he has to defect again just to find a clean platform, is a betrayal of the Nigerian people.
Atiku is playing a zero-sum game. They would rather own 100% of a losing party than 50% of a winning coalition. Obi’s move to the NDC is a desperate, necessary escape from a burning house. He is trying to build a government where “a mother will no longer cry for a child that left for school and will not return”. You can’t do that while arguing over office spaces and court injunctions in ADC.
Nigeria doesn’t need another “elder statesman” candidate.
We need the man who has the youth, the ideas, and the integrity. By losing Peter Obi to the NDC, the ADC has effectively signed its own death warrant, and Atiku’s greed provided the ink.
