ABUJA — Arise TV broadcaster Rufai Oseni has raised an alarm over what he describes as a coordinated effort to prevent Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, from appearing on the ballot in the 2027 general elections. Speaking during a recent broadcast of "The Morning Show," Oseni claimed that political assessments conducted by major parties, including the APC and ADC, have identified Obi as the most significant threat to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. According to Oseni, the current strategy among the political elite is to leverage legal hurdles and internal sabotage to sideline the former Anambra State governor before the next electoral cycle begins.
Oseni suggested that the recent crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—which Obi recently exited—was a calculated move to deny him a stable political vehicle. He warned that the newly expanded Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) would likely face immediate litigation regarding its registration process as part of this broader strategy to destabilize Obi’s new platform.
The broadcaster's comments come as the opposition landscape undergoes a major shift. On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso officially joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The duo was received at the Abuja residence of the NDC’s National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson. Supporters of the "Obi-Kwankwaso Movement" (often referred to as the "O-K Movement") gathered in Abuja to celebrate the registration, chanting slogans that framed the alliance as a definitive third force in Nigerian politics.
Obi stated that the persistent crises and endless litigations in his previous parties, which he alleged were fueled by the current government, forced the move to the NDC—a platform he described as peaceful and devoid of internal factions. Despite the optimism from the Obi and Kwankwaso camps, the NDC is already facing administrative scrutiny. Critics have alleged that the party’s registration bypassed standard INEC procedures, a claim that NDC leadership has strongly refuted. As the 2027 race begins to take shape, the ability of this new alliance to survive anticipated legal challenges remains a focal point for political analysts.
How do you think the potential alliance between Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso will influence voter behavior in regions where they previously competed against each other?
