Nigeria’s opposition political landscape is on the verge of a seismic shift as the crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) worsens dramatically, with credible reports indicating that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, are currently in advanced defection talks with leaders of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), with Wednesday pencilled in as the likely date for a formal announcement.
Sources close to both political heavyweights confirm that negotiations with NDC leadership have reached an advanced stage, with key sticking points around structure, zoning, and strategic positioning for the 2027 presidential and governorship elections said to have been largely resolved.
The ADC, which had been positioned as a potential platform for opposition consolidation ahead of 2027, has in recent weeks been convulsed by internal power struggles, leadership disputes, and ideological disagreements that have made it increasingly untenable for high-profile figures seeking a credible and stable political platform.
Atiku, a five-time presidential aspirant who came closest to defeating an incumbent in the controversial 2023 election, is believed to be seeking a fresh and reinvigorated platform that can galvanise the opposition vote more effectively than the fractured ADC currently offers.
Aregbesola, whose falling out with the ruling APC has been well documented, is equally said to be attracted by the NDC’s growing national structure and its potential to serve as a credible opposition vehicle outside the APC’s shadow.
Political analysts warn that if both Atiku and Aregbesola formally defect to the NDC on Wednesday, it would dramatically alter Nigeria’s 2027 electoral calculus, potentially transforming the NDC overnight from a fledgling party into a major opposition powerhouse capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
CDA News Nigeria will provide live updates as Wednesday’s expected defection announcement approaches.
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