Obi–Kwankwaso Wave: NDC Raises Alarm Over “Political Opportunists” With No Track Record

According to Ireporter Online, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has declared that it will not permit aspirants to exploit the popularity of political figures such as Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso in a bid to secure electoral victories ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s spokesperson, Osa Director, stated during a Thursday interview on Channels Television that the NDC has drawn lessons from the 2023 election cycle, particularly the experience of the Labour Party, and is determined to avoid a repeat of similar developments.

Director explained that during the party’s screening process, attention was drawn to a surge of aspirants, including individuals from the diaspora with little or no prior political involvement, who reportedly obtained nomination forms under the NDC platform with intentions of contesting in 2027.

He stressed that the party remains committed to a rigorous vetting process to ensure only credible and politically grounded aspirants are cleared to fly its flag. According to him, the screening exercise was designed to assess candidates’ vision, experience, and commitment to party ideals, noting that political visibility and grassroots presence remain key requirements for electoral viability.

He further referenced the 2023 elections, where several candidates reportedly benefited from the influence of Obi and Kwankwaso, only to later defect to other parties, describing the trend as a cautionary lesson for the NDC.

Director maintained that the party has now tightened its internal processes to prevent opportunistic entries, insisting that pedigree, loyalty, and ideological alignment with the party’s values will be strictly evaluated before any ticket is issued.