Nigeria's major opposition parties are in crisis. Can they mount formidable challenge ?

NDC and ADC logos

Nigeria’s two main opposition parties, ADC and NDC, are facing multiple internal crises, calling into question their ability to challenge or even defeat the ruling party, APC, in next year’s general elections.

Although Nigeria currently has 21 registered parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) are the two expected to pose formidable challenges to the ruling APC. This is partly because of their presidential candidates: Atiku Abubakar of the ADC and Peter Obi of the NDC.

Mr Abubakar came second in the last presidential election, while Mr Obi came third. Together, they had more votes than the eventual winner, President Bola Tinubu, in 2023. Though both men were in different parties when they contested in 2023, they are believed to still wield influence over millions of their followers.

To be able to challenge and defeat the APC, each of the two parties would need to be formidable; a major challenge, largely caused by self-inflicted problems, especially their handling of party primaries.