… Legal Battle Threatens Party Legitimacy
… Internal Rifts Deepen Across States
… Leadership Tussle Spreads To Kano, South-West
Daud Olatunji
Barely 24 hours after their high-profile defection to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, former presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have been engulfed in a wave of crises threatening the stability and credibility of their new political platform.
Investigations by PLATFORM TIMES reveal that the party is already battling a combination of legal disputes, internal wrangling and trust deficits across key regions, casting doubts on its preparedness as a formidable opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Legal battle over registration
At the heart of the unfolding turmoil is a deepening controversy over the legitimacy of the party’s registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The All Democratic Alliance, one of the political associations that sought registration, has vowed to challenge the process in court, alleging that the NDC did not meet statutory requirements.
A leading figure in the ADA, Umar Ardo, accused INEC of deviating from its guidelines by registering a party that allegedly neither completed formal application procedures nor participated in the 2025 screening exercise involving over 170 associations.
Ardo described the development as “irregular” and “politically influenced,” disclosing that his group had concluded plans to appeal a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja which compelled INEC to register the NDC.
He maintained that while ADA fulfilled all requirements, including establishing offices nationwide and submitting necessary documentation, its application has remained unresolved for months, unlike the NDC’s case, which was determined within 32 days.
“This level of inconsistency undermines the integrity of the electoral process,” he said, noting that the association invested nearly N200 million in the process.
Dickson dismisses allegations
In a swift response, former Bayelsa State governor and NDC leader, Seriake Dickson, rejected the allegations, insisting that the party followed due process.
Dickson released a 2017 acknowledgement letter from INEC, indicating that the commission had earlier received and accepted the party’s application, confirming that its proposed name met constitutional requirements.
According to him, the party only updated its earlier application when registration resumed, dismissing criticisms as “propaganda, gossip and blackmail.”
He urged Nigerians to ignore the controversy and support the party’s mission to rebuild the country.
Kano crisis over Kwankwaso’s entry
Beyond the legal tussle, internal cracks have surfaced in Kano State, where party leaders have openly resisted Kwankwaso’s perceived influence.
