The Kwankwasiya movement has disclosed that former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi are expected to formally defect to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as early as next week, signalling a major shift in Nigeria’s opposition political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson of the Kwankwasiya movement, told TheCable on Friday night that the decision followed a unanimous endorsement by key stakeholders, and that negotiations with the NDC were at an advanced stage, with only minor details remaining to be resolved. He expressed confidence that both politicians, along with others, would be joining the party on Monday or Tuesday.

The disclosure came on the same day that representatives of stakeholders from all 44 local government areas of Kano State gathered at Kwankwaso’s residence for a high-level strategic meeting. The gathering was widely interpreted as a decisive internal consultation ahead of the anticipated defection.

Both Obi and Kwankwaso are currently chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party mired in a leadership crisis that has cast serious doubt over its viability going into 2027.

The Supreme Court recently reserved judgement in an appeal stemming from a factional dispute over the party’s leadership, leaving its future uncertain. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also set May 30, 2026, as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers and nominate candidates, adding urgency to the duo’s decision on where to pitch their tent.

The NDC, a platform being promoted by former Bayelsa State governor and senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has made no secret of its desire to have Obi and Kwankwaso on board. The party had publicly courted both men in the weeks leading up to this disclosure, floating the prospect of a joint presidential ticket and signalling what it described as a limited window for them to join before its primary deadline. Meanwhile, supporters of the two politicians have been championing what has become known as the “OK Movement,” a growing grassroots mobilisation effort pushing for a joint Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket in 2027.

Political analysts say that if the defection is formalised, it could significantly reshape Nigeria’s opposition dynamics and mount the most credible electoral challenge yet to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.