The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has named Mohammed Sani Abacha, son of former military Head of State Sani Abacha, as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Gatekeepers News reports that the announcement was made on Wednesday by Bello Gambo-Bichi, chairman of the Kano PDP faction aligned with Nyesom Wike, during the party’s replacement governorship primary in the state. Recent reports also confirm that the party formally replaced its earlier candidate, Muhammad Bello Dalha, after his withdrawal from the race.
Gambo-Bichi also announced former PDP state chairman and commissioner, Yusuf Ado-Kibiya, as Abacha’s running mate.
He said Dalha withdrew following consultations among party stakeholders in Kano and Abuja, necessitating a replacement primary in accordance with the Electoral Act and PDP guidelines.
“Last time we did a primary election in which Mohammed Bello Dalha was declared winner, but following consultations among stakeholders in Kano and Abuja, the candidate decided to withdraw,” Gambo-Bichi said.
“The law says that as a result of withdrawal, a replacement primary must be held. That is what brought us here today.”
He added: “We have affirmed Muhammad Sani Abacha as the gubernatorial candidate of our great party in Kano State.”
According to the party chairman, the nomination of Kibiya followed reconciliation between different factions within the Kano PDP.
“Kibiya’s nomination followed reconciliation between the two factions of the PDP in Kano,” he said.
Gambo-Bichi said the reconciliation also resulted in changes to some of the party’s National Assembly and state assembly candidates.
He urged party leaders, stakeholders, members and supporters to support the new candidates, adding that representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present during the exercise.
The chairman described the development as a new phase for the party, saying the PDP “is waxing stronger in Kano.”
Also speaking, Abba Abdullahi, chairman of the gubernatorial replacement primary election panel, said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the PDP constitution, party guidelines, relevant regulations and applicable electoral laws.
He said Abacha had met the requirements for nomination, while noting that his candidacy remained subject to statutory processes and scrutiny by the relevant electoral authorities.
The development marks Abacha’s return as the PDP’s candidate after he contested the party’s earlier governorship primary, which was won by Dalha before the latter withdrew. Abacha also contested the 2023 Kano governorship election on the PDP platform.
