Nigeria, June 5 -- The defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) last month has reshaped Nigeria's political contest, particularly in the North-west geopolitical zone.

This region has been a stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where it has won the presidential and most governorship elections since 2015.

The rapid realignment involving Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso thwarted the opposition's initial grand plan to present a united opposition against President Bola Tinubu for the January 2027 presidential election. In April, opposition leaders made the "Ibadan Declaration" at an event hosted by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and attended b...