Nigeria's opposition faces a narrower path to a single presidential candidate after the withdrawal deadline passed and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said his party would stay in the race.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lists former Anambra State Gov. Peter Obi and Kwankwaso as the NDC's presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar heads the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents the All Progressives Congress (APC). EconoTimes previously covered the separate opposition tickets.
Under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, a candidate seeking to withdraw must personally deliver a signed written notice and sworn affidavit to the nominating party. The party must forward both documents to INEC at least 90 days before the election. For the Jan. 16, 2027, presidential vote, that deadline fell Sunday, Oct. 18.
A separate provision requires parties seeking a formal merger to give INEC nine months' notice. That rule governs party mergers, while the 90-day deadline governs a candidate's withdrawal.
BusinessDay reported that the ADC campaign accused Kwankwaso of urging Abubakar to leave the race for Obi and alleged that the move would help Tinubu politically. BusinessDay reported that Kwankwaso rejected claims that the NDC ticket was aligned with the ruling APC and said Sunday the NDC would not withdraw its ticket for the ADC or another party.
BusinessDay also reported that former APC national vice chairman Salihu Lukman argued on Channels TV's Hard Copy that opposition parties could choose one candidate days before voting. His proposal comes after the candidate withdrawal deadline.
Legal expert Okoi Obono-Obla argued on Arise TV that parties cannot retain separate identities while fielding a joint candidate. He said a formal merger was the legal route, citing the APC's formation from several parties and a faction of another in 2013 as a precedent.
INEC has scheduled the presidential election for Jan. 16, 2027.
