The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is facing growing internal tensions as competing interests linked to Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson, reportedly struggle for influence ahead of the 2027 general election.
The disagreements have emerged around party primaries, candidate selection and leadership disputes within support groups associated with the coalition, raising questions about how the party will manage its diverse political interests as the 2027 elections approach.
One of the disputes centres on complaints from supporters of Obi, particularly members of the Obidient Movement, who have expressed concerns over the outcome of some party primaries and the distribution of elective positions.
In Delta State, Morris Monye, identified as an ally of Obi, alleged that his candidacy for the House of Representatives was affected after political figures who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) joined the party.
Monye said he raised the matter with Obi but ultimately decided not to pursue the dispute, citing advice from the former Anambra State governor and his desire not to undermine the broader political project.
The NDC, however, rejected suggestions that its national leadership was responsible for Monye’s removal.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Theo Agada, said candidate selection had been devolved to state-level stakeholders and advised Monye to address his concerns with local party leaders.
Similar controversy has emerged in Lagos, where Naheem Balogun, another Obi supporter, initially maintained that he remained the party’s governorship candidate amid reports of a different candidate emerging. The situation later changed when Funso Doherty formally accepted the NDC’s nomination for the 2027 Lagos governorship election.
The report also points to disagreements in the Federal Capital Territory, where activist Aisha Yesufu reportedly failed to secure the party’s senatorial ticket. Dickson reportedly said she had instead been offered a House of Representatives ticket, which she declined.
Beyond candidate selection, tensions have also emerged within the OK Movement, a platform established to bring together supporters of the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements.
Conflicting announcements have been made over the leadership of the organisation, with one faction announcing the removal of its Director-General, Dr John Ughulu, while another maintained that he remained in office. Similar disagreements have reportedly occurred within the Obidient Movement over the position of Yunusa Tanko.
Ladipo Johnson, a former National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Convener of the OK Movement, described the leadership dispute as a distraction and cautioned against actions that could undermine the wider political project.
He said Obi was unhappy with the developments and had met with stakeholders to discuss the situation.
The developments highlight the challenge facing the NDC as it attempts to bring together political figures with different political backgrounds, organisational structures and expectations.
While Obi’s political support has largely been driven by the Obidient Movement, Kwankwaso brings the established Kwankwasiyya political network, while Dickson represents a more traditional political structure within the coalition.
With the 2027 election approaching, how the NDC manages these competing interests could become increasingly important to its ability to maintain cohesion and present itself as a credible opposition platform.
