Edo State lawmaker Natasha Osawaru has officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), becoming one of the latest political figures to join the rapidly growing opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The move marks a significant step in Osawaru’s political career as she prepares to seek re-election to represent Egor Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly.
The 31-year-old lawmaker was formally received into the NDC alongside former Gombe State Deputy Governor John Yoriyo and other political stakeholders at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
A video shared on the party’s official Facebook page showed Osawaru being welcomed by senior party officials, including former Bayelsa State governor and NDC national leader Seriake Dickson.
Before formally announcing her defection, Osawaru had already declared her intention to seek another term in the Edo State House of Assembly under the NDC platform.
According to her, the party represents a fresh opportunity to deliver people centered governance and development to residents of her constituency.
In a campaign flyer that quickly circulated online, the lawmaker playfully reinterpreted the party’s acronym.
Rather than Nigeria Democratic Congress, she described NDC as “Natasha Don Come,” a slogan that immediately attracted attention across social media.
She said her decision to align with the party was driven by a desire to contribute to the emergence of a better Edo State through inclusive governance, youth empowerment, improved security, and stronger community development.
Her political momentum received another boost after she emerged as the NDC’s official candidate for the Egor Constituency seat.
Celebrating the victory, Osawaru shared an emotional message thanking delegates, party members, and supporters for entrusting her with the mandate.
“Today, my heart overflows with profound gratitude, humility, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility,” she wrote.
“This victory does not belong to me alone. It belongs to every delegate who stood in the sun to cast their vote, every party faithful who kept the faith, and every constituent who believes that Egor deserves nothing less than impactful, visionary representation.”
The lawmaker described the primary victory as an important milestone but emphasized that the larger battle lies ahead in the general election.
“Securing this ticket is a magnificent milestone, but it is not the final destination. It is the starting gun for the real work ahead,” she stated.
Beyond her own campaign, Osawaru also appeared to signal support for the growing political coalition forming around former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In a social media post, she shared a photograph with Obi and accompanied it with a message calling on Nigerians to resist oppression.
“Nigerians stand up, war against the oppressors,” she wrote.
She later shared another image featuring Obi and Kwankwaso, further fueling speculation about her alignment with the party’s broader national agenda.
The endorsements come shortly after both Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC following their departure from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Their arrival has been widely viewed as one of the most significant opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with party leaders describing it as a major step toward building a stronger alternative political force.
For Natasha Osawaru, the move represents more than a party switch.
It places her at the center of a rapidly evolving political movement that is attracting politicians from across the country and positioning itself as a key player in Nigeria’s next electoral cycle.
As campaigns begin taking shape ahead of 2027, the lawmaker’s defection and emergence as the NDC candidate for Egor Constituency signal that she intends to remain a prominent voice in Edo politics while aligning herself with one of the country’s most closely watched opposition platforms.
