The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, has attributed the ongoing political realignments within Nigeria’s opposition space to deep internal crises, alleged infiltration of political parties, and prolonged legal disputes that he says have continued to weaken opposition structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Wednesday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State, he analysed the state of opposition politics and the evolving coalition arrangements across the country, arguing that what is unfolding is not ordinary political disagreement but a deeper structural breakdown affecting nearly all opposition formations.
According to him, the inability of parties to maintain internal order has created an environment where realignment becomes almost inevitable, as political actors are forced to constantly reassess their position within unstable platforms that are struggling with both internal and external pressures.
Dr. Tanko insisted that the opposition is operating under conditions of sustained pressure which have significantly affected cohesion and long-term planning, stressing that these challenges are not isolated to one political party but spread across multiple platforms in the country.
He said, “Well, it was very evidently clear that the government of the day has infiltrated most of the political party. You could see what happened to Labour Party, you could see what happened to what’s happening to SDP at the moment. You saw quite a number of attempts to deny his excellency Mr. Peter Obi the ticket to run for elections and so therefore the Supreme Court judgment that came in not too long ago actually gave a stamp of authority into our claims because we helped in building a new political party after regrettably leaving the Labour Party.”
He further explained that these developments are not accidental but part of a recurring pattern within opposition politics, where internal crises often escalate into legal battles that weaken party structures and disrupt political continuity, making it increasingly difficult for candidates to operate within stable platforms.
He then added a historical and contextual clarification around Peter Obi’s political transitions, arguing that his movement across parties is rooted in principle rather than convenience, insisting that Obi consistently exits when structures become compromised or transactional in nature.
Recall that Obi Peter Obi has defended his history of changing political parties by stating that he exits a platform whenever it abandons its core principles and becomes driven by transaction and personal interests. He explained that his initial departure from APGA to PDP in 2014 was to avoid a destructive governance conflict with his successor in Anambra State. He later dumped the PDP for the Labour Party in 2022 because the PDP had become highly transactional, with members routinely flouting internal rules. By early 2026, Obi left the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing severe internal leadership tussles, hostile legal disputes, and external sabotage. Most recently, in May 2026, he moved from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), explicitly stating that he left the ADC due to a toxic political climate and orchestrated litigation allegedly engineered to sabotage his 2027 presidential ambition.
Similarly, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has changed political parties at least five times, with his shifts driven by a quest for a stable presidential platform, a refusal to be sidelined, and the protection of his Kwankwasiyya movement. He defected from the PDP to the APC in 2014 due to internal friction and a lack of democratic space under Goodluck Jonathan, only to return to the PDP in 2018 after citing severe marginalization and a bitter local feud with Abdullahi Ganduje. In 2022, he dumped the PDP for the NNPP after his faction was denied key leadership slots, but he resigned from the NNPP in March 2026 to join the ADC coalition following a falling out with Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Finally, in May 2026, Kwankwaso moved from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), explaining that orchestrated legal battles had paralyzed the ADC and forced him to find a stable platform to run as Peter Obi’s 2027 vice-presidential candidate.
The opposition coalition shifted from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primarily due to crippling internal legal disputes and suspected political sabotage. Just months after the alliance formed, the ADC became paralyzed by factional leadership tussles and endless lawsuits. Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso publicly alleged that these hostile court cases were orchestrated by ruling party agents to destabilize the opposition and stop them from legally meeting upcoming INEC deadlines.
Additionally, the ADC platform collapsed under the weight of competing presidential ambitions, specifically between Atiku Abubakar and the Obi-Kwankwaso bloc. Atiku’s loyalists reportedly attempted to hijack the ADC structure to secure his personal ticket, refusing to guarantee a balanced platform for other major stakeholders. To escape this toxic climate and secure a clean, lawsuit-free slate, Obi and Kwankwaso abandoned the ADC to formalize their joint 2027 ticket under the newly registered NDC.
Dr. Tanko maintained that even after attempts to rebuild or reorganise party structures, legal complications continue to emerge, often reversing earlier progress and forcing political actors to constantly reassess their position within the political space.
He said, “And when we got to the NDC there were litigations that the Supreme Court said that yes they recognized the leadership of the Senator David Mark and then that they’re saying that we should go back to the Federal High Court for adjudication on issues that were already being raised. This turns a red flag cross and we felt that before we could finish all this adjudication we would have been caught by the wing and we would end up not even having a candidates.”
He argued that such legal uncertainty makes political participation risky, especially for candidates who must prepare for elections within strict timelines, insisting that no serious contender would willingly operate under conditions where legitimacy can be contested at any stage.
He added, “And that has also been proven when we joined, we went back after we left for NDC. When we went back you can see that the court now has said that they have adjoined that case to thy kingdom home. So that means who will want to go into an election with a court case hanging on top of his head?”
He further stressed that while the judiciary remains respected, it has become unpredictable in its handling of political cases, adding another layer of uncertainty that influences decisions within opposition movements.
He said, “Especially now that we are not so sure of the way our judiciary will act even though we trust that there are some of them who work very hard but then the situation is not too appealing and not too secure for a genuine candidate to remain in one person where he will be completely annihilated even when the game has not started.”
Dr. Tanko maintained that most of the political movements being witnessed are driven not by betrayal or opportunism but by the need to avoid systemic entrapment within unstable political structures.
He said, “Most of these reasons are some of the reasons that he and his counterpart Excellency Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso take that courageous decision to move to the NDC for security, safety and the opportunity to run for election in 2027.”
He added that coalition-building has now become a necessity rather than a choice, as opposition actors attempt to consolidate strength ahead of a difficult electoral cycle, warning that fragmentation would only weaken their chances further.
Dr. Tanko stressed that opposition politics is currently defined by survival strategies shaped by legal, institutional, and structural constraints, insisting that this explains the frequency of political movement among key actors.
He then drew parallels with internal crises in other opposition parties, insisting that instability is not unique to any one platform but reflects a wider national pattern affecting party structures across Nigeria.
He said, “Yes it was done and who would have thought that the SDP would have similar problem as we are having now. Does that mean that some of the leaders there did not do due diligence?”
He expanded further on SDP tensions, pointing to leadership disputes and court interventions that have created factional divisions within the party.
He added, “As of this morning Sheu Gabam by the court has been returned as the chairman of the party. He was also arrested this morning… So as we speak right now the SDP has two factions.”
Dr. Tanko maintained that such parallel leadership structures and ongoing disputes demonstrate a broader systemic crisis that complicates election preparation across opposition platforms.
He reinforced this by referencing legal tensions within the ADC, arguing that court cases have become instruments of political instability.
He said, “Nobody would have thought that Nafiu Bala will come up with an obnoxious attribution and going to court and the court granting me that opportunity to be heard.”
He argued that such disputes make it difficult for any political platform to operate without distraction, as litigation often follows even after leadership restructuring.
Dr. Tanko that these patterns across ADC, SDP, and other platforms reinforce his position that opposition realignment is driven by systemic instability rather than personal ambition or betrayal narratives.
OBIDIENT MOVEMENT: OBI NOT A BETRAYER
Dr. Tanko strongly rejected narratives framing Peter Obi’s political movements as betrayal, insisting instead that such interpretations ignore the realities of Nigeria’s political structure and the instability within party systems.
He maintained that Obi’s decisions are guided by principle, structure, and the need to operate within stable political environments rather than personal ambition or opportunism.
He said, “No, you see he who seeks for everything must come with clean hands. Mr Peter Obi has shown his interest to run for elections as a presidential candidate. So every process that will give him that particular opportunity must be seen to be done clearly, clearly with all level of responsibility. Once you are an interested candidate, if you go to a place and the pendulum is not clearly stipulated for all positions that everybody wants to run, then everybody will be suspicious of each other.”
He further insisted that Obi has consistently contributed to party processes and has not acted in bad faith at any stage of his political transitions.
He added, “At this point, his excellency Peter Obi did not in any way betray anybody in fact Obi put his money, gave his respect, supported every process of the party and also made it clear that it is going to be an issue that will make that particular process very unclean. He will have to speak for an alternative.”
Dr. Tanko concluded that Obi’s movements across political platforms should be understood as strategic responses to structural instability rather than acts of disloyalty, insisting that Nigeria’s political environment itself is what forces such repositioning.
