Troubles plaguing the African Democratic Congress are now following Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso into their new home. The pair just joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress, but that party faces its own legal headaches.
INEC's website shows something unusual. Every NDC national executive has a "court order" tag next to their name.
Both former governors walked out of the ADC on Sunday. They didn't waste time linking up with the NDC for the 2027 race.
Obi blamed the exodus on a "toxic" atmosphere within ADC ranks. He cited years of internal fighting that left the party paralyzed.
INEC actually removed ADC's entire leadership in April. The Supreme Court only reinstated David Mark's faction last week.
But that court ruling came with a catch. Judges told the parties to return to Federal High Court to settle the real issues.
Legal experts warn this could drag on for months. Obi and Kwankwaso may find themselves in similar quicksand with NDC.
The NDC itself has a rocky history. Registration attempts date back to 2017.
INEC rejected the application initially. Officials said the logo looked too much like another party's symbol.
A court battle followed. Seriake Dickson, the party's promoter and former Bayelsa governor, fought back.
Dickson told reporters the court sided with them. Judges said they had the right to form a party and ordered INEC to register them.
INEC complied in February. Nobody appealed the decision within the deadline.
Yet problems are already surfacing. Reuben Egwuaba serves as NDC's national legal adviser.
Here's the problem: Egwuaba holds the same position in the Allied Peoples Movement. That's a direct violation of electoral law.
Section 77 of the Electoral Act bans dual party membership. Violators face serious penalties.
This discovery raises fresh questions about NDC's legal footing. The party looks shaky right when it should appear strongest.
Political analysts are split on whether NDC can survive these issues. Some defend the registration as legitimate and properly approved.
Others worry the court-order designation signals deeper problems. They say INEC wouldn't have added those tags without reason.
Dickson insists everything followed proper procedure. He argues the party earned its registration through the courts.
Still, the Egwuaba situation won't disappear quietly. INEC may need to investigate the dual membership claim.
Obi and Kwankwaso were likely hoping for smooth sailing. Instead, they may be jumping from one sinking ship to another.
NDC's immediate challenge is fixing compliance before 2027. That timeframe leaves little room for lengthy legal fights.
The party wants to look like a fresh alternative. Instead, it's starting life under a cloud of legal uncertainty.
