A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has called on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to join the party, cautioning that he risks being held accountable if opposition forces fail to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Politics Today on Monday, Galadima stated that leading opposition figures were already aligning under the NDC as part of efforts to build a formidable coalition capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He claimed that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, alongside the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had moved into the NDC fold to strengthen opposition unity.
According to Galadima, the consolidation of opposition forces is critical to unseating the incumbent administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He, however, alleged that there were indications of interference by the ruling party through judicial processes aimed at weakening the opposition.
Galadima urged Atiku to align with the NDC, noting that other political actors had previously rallied around him under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and should now receive similar support in return.
He warned that failure by the former vice-president to join the NDC could undermine the opposition’s chances in 2027, stressing that such a decision would be interpreted as a setback to ongoing coalition efforts.
“The reality is that major political actors are converging under the NDC. Anyone remaining outside risks weakening the collective objective,” he said, adding that Atiku’s continued stay outside the party could affect his political prospects in the next election cycle.
The remarks come amid reports that Obi and Kwankwaso recently visited the residence of NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, where they reportedly held consultations with party stakeholders.
However, allies of Atiku and members of the ADC have dismissed claims of any ongoing discussions regarding his defection to the NDC. Reacting to the development, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, denied knowledge of such moves, stating that no talks were underway involving the former vice-president.
The evolving political realignments highlight intensifying efforts among opposition figures to form a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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