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Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Abdulmumin Ohiare Abdulsalam, has said that the defection of Peter Obi and Musa Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to the party remains uncertain.
Abdulsalam was reacting to reports that Obi and Kwankwaso are set to join the NDC.
A report had quoted Abdulsalam as lending credence to the planned defection.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Saturday, he said, “My recent response to rare inquiry by a print journalist regarding the possibility of defections of the duo of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, both of the ADC, dwelt more on the realm of probability rather than certainty.
Read Also: Tinubu Declares National Emergency On Poverty In Nigeria
“This unequivocal clarification of the party is coming on the heels of a politically sensitive reportage by a print media which some media houses and/or news channels are already referencing and getting over-sensational of in the public space.
“For the purpose of clarity, the NDC wishes to restate and maintain its policy posturing on the sensitive issue of defections by politicians and potential electoral candidates who feel dissatisfied in their various political parties.
“Abinitio, our party has been calling on both the ruling and opposition politicians to join what we call the ‘Noah’s Ark’ being floated by the National Leader of the party, especially considering the unique ideologies and policy pillars upon which the NDC was built.
“This suffices to say we do not foreclose nor coarse the defection scenarios to favour our party as we believe politicians are free to move to any party of their choosing.
“Again, we hereby restate that while discussions with key opposition leaders, including many APC politicians, are ongoing, the hierarchy of the NDC shall continue to keep the doors of the party open for whoever wants to come into the party’s fold to salvage the nation.
“In the light of the facts so presented in this explanatory press release, the NDC has not foreclosed the defections of the duo of Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Mr Peter Gregory Obi and others, even though discussions have been going on among the opposition parties on the possibility of an alliance to build a multi-party momentum towards the 2027 polls.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday declared a national emergency on insecurity and poverty, describing them as major threats to jobs, productivity, and national stability.
Addressing thousands of workers and labour leaders at Eagle Square, the president said decent work cannot thrive in an environment plagued by fear and economic hardship.
His remarks aligned with the global May Day theme centred on the Decent Work Agenda championed by the International Labour Organization.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu acknowledged that insecurity and poverty remain “significant obstacles,” but maintained that his administration is addressing them with urgency.
He highlighted the launch of the Community Protection Guards Initiative, which he said has recruited 45,000 young Nigerians to strengthen community security while creating employment opportunities.
The president also outlined key interventions under his Renewed Hope Agenda, including expanded cash transfers reaching 15 million vulnerable households and lifting an estimated 7.5 million Nigerians out of poverty.
He added that major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline have generated more than 600,000 jobs nationwide.
On workers’ welfare, Tinubu said the government has implemented a new national minimum wage, cleared pension arrears, and reintroduced gratuity payments from January 2026.
He further noted that over 800,000 informal sector workers have been enrolled in the micro-pension scheme, while small businesses continue to benefit from a N200 billion MSME support fund.
He said: “There cannot be decent work where workers fear for their lives, where wages cannot feed a family, or where insecurity disrupts farms, factories, markets, and other economic activities. These hydra-headed challenges, the government notes, have been treated as a national emergency due to their impact on productivity, livelihoods, and the confidence of both workers and employers.
“The administration also acknowledged that insecurity and poverty remain major obstacles to building a peaceful Nigeria where citizens can ‘sleep with their eyes closed,’ and to achieving the Decent Work Agenda as envisioned by the International Labour Organization.
“It stressed that the agenda is not merely an international framework but a national imperative, aligned with its vision of a country where hard work is rewarded, opportunities are accessible without discrimination, and every citizen can reach their full potential.
“Despite the challenges, the government assured that it is not relenting in its efforts.
“It said it is confronting the issues through deliberate, coordinated, and sustained actions, backed by targeted policies and the resilience of security personnel, some of whom have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.”
Addressing labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, the president called for sustained dialogue and restraint in industrial disputes.
“Strike should be the last resort, not the first,” he said, urging collaboration to achieve lasting reforms.
Tinubu also commended security forces for their role in safeguarding economic activities, noting that improved safety is directly linked to job creation and national growth.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment, the president said Nigeria remains on track to overcome insecurity and reduce poverty, pledging a future where “decent work is not a privilege for a few, but a reality for all.”
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi have failed Nigeria in the past.
Okpebholodisclosed this during an interview with Channels Television’s one-on-one Politics Today on Thursday.
He noted that despite the opposition, President Bola Tinubu would win his second term in 2027.
