The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has adopted Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of a late military Head of State General Sani Abacha, as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Abacha emerged after the party’s earlier candidate, Muhammad Bello Dalha, withdrew from the race.
The decision was reached during an expanded meeting of the Kano State executive committee on Wednesday, where the party held an affirmation and replacement primary to select a new candidate.
The state PDP Chairman, Dr Bello Gambo Bichi, said the exercise complied with the party’s constitution and applicable electoral laws.
Bichi said Bello Dalha had initially emerged as the party’s candidate but subsequently stepped down following consultations involving PDP stakeholders in Kano and Abuja.
“The law says that as a result of withdrawal, a replacement primary must be held. That is what brought us here today. We have affirmed Muhammad Sani Abacha as the gubernatorial candidate of our great party in Kano State,” Bichi said.
The affirmation was followed by a replacement primary at which Abacha was formally declared the winner by the chairman of the electoral panel, Dr Abba Abdullahi.
Abdullahi said the process was conducted in accordance with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral regulations, adding that Abacha had satisfied the requirements for nomination.
PDP names Kibiya as running mate
As part of an effort to resolve disagreements within the party, the Kano PDP also allocated the deputy governorship slot to the group led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
The party subsequently named Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former factional chairman and former commissioner for Land and Agriculture, as Abacha’s running mate.
Bichi said the decision followed consultations and reconciliation efforts involving the various factions within the party.
“As part of the reconciliation process, we also replaced some of our National Assembly and State Assembly candidates. Representatives of INEC were present and witnessed the entire exercise,” he said.
