Peter Obi set to become NDC presidential candidate as party zone ticket to south

Unless one ogbonge tin sup for di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), di former guvnor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, dey almost certain to secure di presidential ticket of di party.

Dis na one of di outcomes of di NDC first National Convention wey hapun dis Saturday for Abuja, wia di party agree to zone dia presidential ticket to di southern region of Nigeria ahead of di 2027 general election.

Nigeria election umpire, di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) bin also dey present to monitor di convention, according to di Electoral Act.

For 2023, Mr Obi bin also run for president on top Labour Party and e gada more dan six million votes to come third for dat election.

Now, Obi and di former guvnor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who also bin run for president for 2023 on top di New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), don join togeda to form alliance, and political sabi pipo agree say both men, running on ticket as presidential candidate and vice, fit giv di ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) good run for dia money.

Obi and Kwankwaso votes for di 2023 elections dey more dan seven million, and President Bola Tinubu wey win dat election bin gada just ova eight million votes

For di convention ground dis Saturday, Afam Victor Ogene, wey bin dey represent Ogbaru Constituency of Anambra State for di House of Representatives, move di motion for di NDC to zone dia presidential ticket to di South.

Di motion dey seconded by anoda House of Reps member Seyi Sowunmi, and all di delegates for di convention adopt am wit a voice vote. Di party also agree say afta one term of four years, di presidential ticket go automatically go to di North.

Kwankwanso also tok say e dey happy wit di decision to zone di party presidential ticket to di South "so dat e go allow di region to complete dia turn to produce di national leadership."

Just a week ago, many pipo no know about di NDC, until Kwankwaso and Obi announce on Sunday, May 3, 2026, say dem don join di party. Dis move catch plenty pipo by surprise and e don divide opinions for di political space for 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.