How many times Obi, Kwankwaso and Atiku don change parties from 1999 to date?

Political observers for Nigeria don continue to express dia opinions about di defection of two of two ogbonge opposition leaders for di kontri, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from di African Democratic Congress (ADC) to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Di two politicians announce dia decision to join di NDC on Sunday afta dem port from di opposition coalition ADC.

Obi and Kwankwaso say na internal kasala, lawsuits and di situation wey di ADC dey face be some of di reasons why dem decide to port.

On December 31, 2025, Peter Obi bin officially announce say im don join di ADC afta months of discussions among opposition leaders for di kontri.

Kwankwaso bin join ADC on 30 March afta e announce say im too don port from im party, di New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP).

One of di opposition leaders for di kontri, Atiku Abubakar, dey among di pipo wey dey change political party anyhow for di kontri.

While some dey criticise politicians wey dey change parties, odas see am as freedom wey di democratic system give dem.

For dis tori, make we look di times wey political figures don change parties since di kontri return to democracy for 1999.

Atiku: PDP → AC → PDP → APC → PDP → ADC

Wen Nigeria return to di Fourth Republic for 1999, Atiku bin join di PDP, while former President Olusegun Obasanjo carry am do im running mate.

Atiku bin serve as Vice President for eight years, from 1999 to 2007, but towards di end of dia term, im bin kwanta wit Obasanjo sake of di issue of im presidential ambition wey make am comot from di PDP.

On December 20, 2006, Atiku bin join di Action Congress (AC) party and dem bin give am ticket to contest di 2007 general elections, but im bin no succeed.

However, tins bin no go well for am even for AC. For 2009, di former Vice President return to im old party, di PDP, afta kasala start wit di AC chairman, especially wit Bola Tinubu.

Afta e join di PDP again, Atiku kon decide to run for president for di 2011 elections, but former President Goodluck Jonathan beat am for di primary.

However, three years later, Atiku comot from di PDP again, and for early 2014, im bin join forces wit di opposition leaders for di kontri dat time to form di All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku bin wan run for president for 2015 under di APC, but anoda former Nigerian President, di late Muhammadu Buhari beat am for primary.

Two years afta di 2015 elections, Atiku Abubakar comot from di APC, dis time im go back to PDP again on December 2, 2017.

Di reason wey im bin give dat time na di problems wey di PDP bin dey face wen im be Vice President between 1999 and 2007, im come back afta dem bin don settle the problem and evriwia bin stew as tins dey go well for di party.

Im bin also contest for president for di 2023 elections, under di PDP, wey im bin finish second for di election wey Bola Tinubu of di APC win.

Atiku Abubakar comot from di PDP again to join di ADC for 2025. Im aim na to join hands to challenge Bola Tinubu of di APC for di 2027 elections.

Strong indications dey say Atiku go contest for president again for di 2027 elections under di ADC.

Im don also tok say di 2027 elections go be di last time im go contest.

Kwankwaso: PDP - APC - PDP - NNPP - ADC - NDC

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso bin dey among di founders of di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 1998, and im bin contest for govnor of Kano State for di 1999 elections, wey im win.

Kwankwaso bin also contest for second term as govnor of Kano for 2011, im win too.

However, towards di end of im term, Kwankwaso bin kwanta wit di federal govment under Jonathan, wey make im and oda govnors go form di new PDP, one faction of Abubakar Kawu Baraje, but im later join di APC.

Im bin contest for di Kano Central Senatorial seat for 2015 under di APC, wey im win.

E no too waste time wen for 2018, im go back to PDP afta im comot from APC sake of differences wit di former govnor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Kwankwaso bin contest for president for di 2019 elections, but im lose di primary election.

On March 30, 2022, im bin join NNPP, just one day afta im defection from di PDP.

Di leader of di Kwankwasiyya bin also contest for president for di 2023 elections, but im no win.

Even though im bin lose di presidential election, im party, NNPP bin successfully win di govnorship election for Kano State - di state wey get di highest population for northern Nigeria.

Four years afta im rejoin di NNPP, Senator Kwankwaso comot from di party to join di ADC coalition on March 29, 2026.

Di former govnor of Kano State bin tok say im take di decision to comot from NNPP sake of di current political situation for Nigeria, wey need unity.

E no even reach beta two months afta im join di ADC bifor Kwankwaso comot from di party. Now im dey wit di National Democratic Congress (NDC) wey im officially join on 3 May, 2026.

Peter Obi: APGA → PDP → LP → ADC → NDC

Peter Obi bin join di All Peoples Grand Alliance (Apga) wen dem bin first form am for 2002, wia im bin get di opportunity to contest for govnor of Anambra State for south-eastern Nigeria for 2003.

Im bin win, but court case bin dey, wey delay im term wey start for 2006, and im end im second term for 2014.

On October 7, 2017, di former govnor of Anambra State port from Apga to di PDP.

For di 2019 elections, Obi bin contest wit Atiku for di PDP as im running mate, but dem bin lose to di late Muhammadu Buhari.

For 2022, Obi comot from PDP go join Labour Party (LP), wia im contest for president for 2023, but im no win.

On 31 December, 2025, Obi officially announce say im don join di ADC afta months of tok-tok among opposition leaders for Nigeria.

Den on Sunday, 3 May, di former presidential candidate comot again to join NDC.