...”now the NDC has suddenly become the beautiful bride,” he said, noting the wave of interest the party is attracting.
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times| Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Reuben Abati, has cautioned that the rapid growth of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) must not reduce the party to what he described as an “IDP camp” for displaced politicians.
Abati revealed that the party’s membership has surged significantly within a short time, rising from about 9.4 million to over 10 million. He made the remarks on Tuesday during The Morning Show on Arise Television, following the recent defection of key political figures into the party.
According to him, the entry of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso has significantly boosted the NDC’s visibility and positioned it as a formidable opposition force ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, Abati warned that the growing influx of politicians could undermine the party’s structure and ideological clarity if not properly managed. He stressed that without a clearly defined direction, the NDC risks becoming a refuge for “internally displaced politicians.”
“Now the NDC has suddenly become the beautiful bride,” he said, noting the wave of interest the party is attracting. “But it must not become an IDP camp, a camp for internally displaced politicians.”
He further observed that while the party outlines key focus areas such as service to the people, rule of law, agriculture, and transportation on its platform, these remain broad and generic statements common to most political parties.
Abati urged the NDC, led by Seriake Dickson, to go beyond slogans by establishing a concrete social contract with Nigerians and engaging citizens more meaningfully.
He also described the party’s emergence as a wake-up call for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasizing that opposition voices cannot be suppressed in a democratic system.
“If opposition platforms are weakened in one place, they will naturally re-emerge elsewhere,” he noted, adding that the evolving political landscape signals a potentially competitive 2027 election.
Abati concluded that the involvement of Obi and Kwankwaso has injected fresh momentum and influence into the NDC, setting the stage for more dynamic political developments in the lead-up to the next general elections.
