By Ovasa Ogaga,
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has cautioned members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress against internal litigation and factional disputes, warning that endless court battles could derail efforts to build a formidable opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi appealed in remarks captured in a viral video on Sunday, shortly after he and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were presented with membership cards of the party signalling a major political realignment ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Addressing party faithful, Obi urged members to embrace unity, discipline, and reconciliation, insisting that legal disputes have historically weakened political parties and distracted them from their core mission.
“Please let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party, we are not lawyers,” Obi said.
He further appealed to the judiciary to expedite pending political cases, stressing that opposition figures must focus on nation-building rather than internal wrangling.
“We are pleading with the judiciary. Please end cases in the party so we can face the job of building a new Nigeria that is possible,” he added.
Obi said the emerging coalition was driven by a desire to create a more inclusive and equitable Nigeria where opportunities are not determined by political connections or social status.
“We want to build a country where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. That is what we want to do,” he declared.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate also warned party members against actions capable of destabilising the platform at a critical stage of its evolution, hinting that discipline and order would be strictly enforced to safeguard the party’s future.
Sunday’s development comes amid growing consultations and strategic alliances among opposition leaders seeking to forge a united front capable of challenging the ruling party in 2027.
Earlier in the day, Obi and Kwankwaso reportedly held a closed-door meeting with leaders of the NDC at the Abuja residence of the party’s National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, in Guzape.
The meeting, sources said, centred on consolidating opposition forces and strengthening the party’s national structure ahead of the next electoral contest.
Their arrival at the gathering sparked excitement among supporters of the Obi-Kwankwaso political movement, who thronged the venue, chanting solidarity songs as both politicians were ushered in.
The latest move follows Obi’s recent exit from the African Democratic Congress, which he blamed on internal crises, persistent legal battles, and what he described as a toxic political atmosphere that undermined effective political organisation.
Despite the ongoing political realignments, Obi maintained that his political engagement is driven by national interest rather than personal ambition.
“I am not desperate to be President, Vice President or Senate President. I am desperate to see a Nigeria where people can live in dignity, without hunger, fear, or displacement,” he stated.
Political observers say Obi’s latest intervention highlights growing concerns among opposition figures over the destabilising impact of intra-party litigation as they attempt to build a cohesive and credible alternative platform for the 2027 elections.
