NDC hold dia national convention afta Kwankwaso, Peter Obi join di party

Just a week ago, many pipo no know about di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), but today, di tori dey different afta two ogbonge opposition politicians join di party.

Mr Peter Obi, di former govnor of Anambra State and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former govnor of Kano State, join di NDC last week for one surprise move, and dis Saturday na di first eva national convention of di party for Abuja, Nigeria.

Kwankwaso and Obi bin follow for di opposition joinbodi movement, Di Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), wia some strong opposition politicians for Nigeria bin join togeda to try to remove di ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power.

But internal disagreements make dem change dia mind and join di NDC, party wey be say na just fresh political party wey di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) bin no even gree to register, until court order dem to.

Witin di one week wey Kwankwaso and Obi join di NDC, di party don get at least 17 members for di Nigeria House of Representatives plus at least two Senators, afta many of di lawmakers wey bin join di ADC sake of dia influence also follow dem decamp.

Dis NDC national convention na di very first for di party history and already e don dey draw plenty attention.

Di major aim of di convention, according to one of di State leaders wey follow BBC News Pidgin tok, na to ratify di national leadership and perhaps to unveil dia two new "superstars".

Hundred of supporters gada for di convention venue, with traditional dances of all kinds, to welcome Obi and Kwankwaso in a move wey don divide opinions among political sabi pipo.

Some describe di two politicians as "weak", as dem allegedly abandon di ADC coalition sake of just small internal leadership crisis.

But odas describe di move to NDC as "genius masterstroke" by experienced politicians wey dey several steps ahead of pipo wey dia intention na to play dem out of di game.

Already, speculations don plenty say di pair of Obi and Kwankwaso go be di flag bearers of di NDC as presidential and vice presidential candidates for di 2027 election.

Dat one na afta di party primaries e go dey clearer, and e no far again bicos according to di 2027 election timetable wey Inec don publish, di period for primaries na from April 23 to May 30, 2026.

Who be NDC?

Di Nigeria Democratic Congress describe demsef as party wey dia aim na to respond to di "demand for disciplined governance, long term national planning, and institutional accountability", according to di party website.

"We na national party wey dey committed to lawful democratic processes and constructive civic engagement."

Na one former govnor of Bayelsa State, for di South-South region of Nigeria, form di party in 2017, but no be until February 2026 afta a long court battle, bifor Inec gree register di party as one of di political parties for Nigeria.