The Peoples Democratic Party has picked Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, as its candidate for the 2027 Kano State governorship election.
Abacha emerged as the party’s candidate following the withdrawal of its previous governorship candidate, Muhammad Bello Dalha, from the race.
The decision was reached on Wednesday at an expanded meeting of the Kano State PDP executive committee, where the party conducted an affirmation and replacement primary to fill the vacant governorship ticket.
The state PDP Chairman, Dr Bello Gambo Bichi, said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and relevant electoral laws.
“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.
Bello Dalha had earlier emerged as the party’s governorship candidate after winning its primary election but subsequently withdrew from the race following consultations among party stakeholders in Kano and Abuja.
His withdrawal created the need for the party to conduct a replacement process to fill the vacant ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
The affirmation of Abacha was followed by a replacement primary, during which he was formally declared the winner by the chairman of the electoral panel, Dr Abba Abdullahi.
Abdullahi said the exercise complied with the party’s guidelines and relevant electoral regulations, adding that Abacha fulfilled the requirements for nomination.
The development also formed part of broader efforts by the Kano PDP to address internal disagreements and reconcile different groups within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
As part of the reconciliation arrangement, the party 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.
The choice of Kibiya followed consultations among the different groups within the party as part of efforts to accommodate competing interests and strengthen internal cohesion.
Bichi said the party’s reconciliation efforts also extended to its legislative candidates, with changes made to some of its National Assembly and State Assembly candidates.
“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.
The PDP chairman said the presence of representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission during the exercise provided oversight of the replacement process.
The development marks a change in the PDP’s governorship ticket after Dalha, who had previously secured the party’s nomination, stepped aside.
With Abacha now formally selected, the party is expected to proceed with its preparations for the 2027 governorship election while continuing efforts to reconcile members and groups that had been divided over its internal political arrangements.
The replacement primary also comes at a time when political parties in Kano are beginning to position their candidates and structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Kano governorship contest is expected to attract significant political attention because of the state’s size and its importance in Northern Nigerian politics.
For the PDP, the latest arrangement combines a new governorship candidate with a deputy candidate drawn from one of the groups involved in the party’s reconciliation process.
The party’s leadership has indicated that the changes were intended to address internal disagreements and create a broader accommodation among its stakeholders.
West Trybe reports that the PDP’s selection of Muhammad Sani Abacha follows the withdrawal of its previous candidate and comes amid ongoing efforts by political parties in Kano to settle internal differences, consolidate their structures and position themselves ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
