The Nigerian political landscape witnessed a seismic shift on Saturday, May 9, 2026, as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) kicked off its highly anticipated National Convention at the Los Angeles Event Centre in Abuja.
In a powerful display of opposition unity, the event was headlined by the arrival of former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, alongside Senator Seriake Dickson and a formidable bloc of 17 House of Representatives members who recently defected to the party.
As thousands of delegates converge on Ahmadu Bello Way, the NDC is set to ratify its constitution and elect a new National Executive to lead what many supporters are calling the “Rescue Nigeria” movement.
According to the agenda made available to journalists, some of the issues on the table for discussion and resolution are zoning, ratification of the amended party constitution, and the election of national executives of the party
The NDC recently witnessed an influx of politicians who defected from other political parties, including the ADC and the PDP.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the NDC.
Their defections were announced on the floor of the House during plenary.
Lawmakers who defected to the NDC include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande, and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi, and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections of the lawmakers to the NDC came two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the party from the ADC.
Obi, who was the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), received the NDC membership cards last Sunday amid cheers from supporters, shortly after a closed-door meeting with leaders of the NDC.
The two opposition leaders were welcomed into the NDC by a former Governor of Bayelsa State and national leader of the party, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Obi had cited a worsening political climate marked by internal crises, external interference, and growing hostility within party structures as his reasons for leaving the ADC, which he joined from the Labour Party barely in December 2025.
The former Anambra State governor described Nigeria’s political space as increasingly toxic, where intimidation, insecurity, and persistent scrutiny have become the norm.
He lamented that systems meant to protect citizens now often work against them, while individuals striving for sincere service face mounting pressure both publicly and privately.