Nigeria’s opposition politics appears set for a significant realignment as former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso edge closer to joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Sources familiar with the ongoing consultations say both political camps have largely resolved internal discussions, with only an official announcement, expected on Monday, remaining.

Observers describe the development not as an ordinary defection but as a strategic convergence driven by political timing, organisational calculations, and mounting pressure from supporters across the country.

The momentum gained fresh attention following remarks by NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, while receiving Senator Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru into the party.

Dickson urged intending members to move quickly and beat the party’s registration deadline.

“Those who are still in doubt should come now. By law, you are free to join or leave any party at any time.

“Our registration portals are open, but there is a deadline. Move now before the 4th or 5th if you want to be part of the process. Don’t waste time, delay is dangerous,” he said.

Political insiders say the camps of Obi and Kwankwaso are already aligning their political structures to meet the timeline, suggesting that urgency has become a major factor in the negotiations.

For Obi, the expected move could mark the end of months of uncertainty following his strong outing in the 2023 presidential election, where he secured over six million votes and built a powerful youth-driven political movement.

However, internal tensions and instability surrounding coalition arrangements have reportedly complicated his political positioning in recent months.

Kwankwaso, on the other hand, is said to be weighing the advantages of integrating his influential Kwankwasiyya movement into a broader national platform capable of challenging the ruling APC more effectively.

Analysts believe the NDC presents attractive advantages for both politicians, particularly its relative legal stability and absence of prolonged factional disputes that have affected several other opposition parties.

The growing alliance has also been energised by the emergence of the “OK Movement,” a coalition bringing together Obi’s Obidient supporters and Kwankwaso’s Kwankwasiyya structure.

At a recent unity summit organised by the movement, several political figures openly criticised the current political climate and called for a stronger opposition front ahead of future elections.

Veteran political strategist Buba Galadima warned against complacency, arguing that history has shown that no government remains politically untouchable.

“People who think they are unbeatable should learn from history. Governments have been removed in the blink of an eye,” he said.

He also raised concerns about possible attempts to weaken opposition parties through institutional and electoral pressures.

“If timelines are manipulated, can a party even produce a candidate? We must think ahead,” Galadima added.

Social commentator Isaac Fayose also stressed the need for urgency and grassroots mobilisation, warning that political momentum alone would not be enough without vigilance and organisation.

Speakers at the summit repeatedly highlighted issues such as economic hardship, insecurity, and declining public confidence in political institutions as reasons behind the growing push for opposition unity.

Director-General of the movement, John Ughulu, described the effort as a national project rather than a regional alliance.

“We are not talking about one region, we are talking about the whole of Nigeria. Everything will be okay in Nigeria, that is the message,” he said.

With consultations reportedly nearing completion, attention is now focused on whether Obi and Kwankwaso will formally announce their entry into the NDC in the coming days, a move that could significantly reshape Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of future elections.