Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on his supporters and Nigerians to rally behind the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following his decision to join the party.
Speaking in a post via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Kwankwaso said the move was guided by a strong commitment to democratic ideals and the need to build a credible political platform.
“Yesterday, we took a bold and decisive step by formally joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress,” he said, noting that the move reflects “a deep commitment to democratic values.”
“We are determined to provide our people with a credible platform where they can thrive and realise their full potential,” he added.
The former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) urged Nigerians to align with the party in pursuit of good governance.
“I therefore call on all our dedicated supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to join the NDC and stand with us in this renewed fight for good governance and true democracy,” he said.
Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC, calling on members to avoid litigation and focus on advancing the nation’s development.
The two opposition heavyweights made the call on Sunday in Abuja during their formal reception into the party, amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi declared his switch to the NDC shortly after announcing his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he joined last December.
Addressing party leaders and supporters, Obi said their decision to join the NDC was driven by the need for a peaceful political platform devoid of internal crises.
He said, “First of all, sincerely, I join in thanking the leader of our party. And I assure him that we are coming here to be part of the peaceful family that will work hard to build a united, secure, prosperous Nigeria that will work for everybody.
“Kwankwaso is also a leader who has been at the forefront of education, providing primary care and putting people out of poverty because we want to build a country where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. That is what we want to do.
“We are using this occasion to plead with the government of today. You know that I contested the election in 2023 in a different party. Rabiu Kwankwaso contested the same election in a different party.”
In his remarks, Kwankwaso said their engagement with the NDC leadership showed strong alignment in ideology and governance priorities, particularly in education, youth empowerment, and national unity.
He said, “We came here together with our team to consult His Excellency, the leader of this party, on our ideology, blueprint, and all that we believe in, especially my humble self and His Excellency, Peter Obi. And we realised that we are all on the same page, be it education, empowerment of young men and women, security, and of course, a very peaceful, united Nigeria.
“During the discussion, we realised that the NDC is submitting its register, I think on May 6. Now, at this point, I would like to invite all Nigerians, including our brothers and sisters in diaspora, especially those who are interested in contesting elections in this party, to register as soon as possible.”
