The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has replaced its earlier governorship candidate, Muhammad Bello Dalha, with Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, ahead of the 2027 election.
The change followed Dalha’s withdrawal from the race after consultations with party stakeholders in Kano and Abuja, according to the state chapter of the PDP.
Abacha’s emergence was formalised on Wednesday during an expanded meeting of the party’s State Executive Committee in Kano, where a replacement governorship primary was conducted.
PDP state chairman, Bello Gambo Bichi, said the fresh exercise became necessary after Dalha, who had previously won the party’s governorship primary, stepped down.
He explained that the party was required to conduct another primary to fill the vacancy created by the withdrawal.
“Last time we did a primary election in which Muhammad Bello Dalha was declared winner. But following consultations among stakeholders in Kano and Abuja, the candidate decided to withdraw.
“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.
Following the affirmation, the chairman of the electoral panel, Abba Abdullahi, formally declared Abacha the winner of the replacement primary.
Abdullahi said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the PDP constitution, party guidelines and relevant electoral regulations. He also said Abacha satisfied the requirements for nomination.
PDP adjusts deputy governorship ticket
The changes to the governorship ticket also formed part of a wider effort by the Kano PDP to resolve its internal disagreements.
Bichi said the party had agreed to allocate the deputy governorship slot to the faction associated with Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as part of its reconciliation process.
Consequently, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former factional chairman of the PDP and former commissioner for Land and Agriculture, was named as Abacha’s running mate.
Bichi said the decision followed extensive consultations among the different tendencies within the party.
“After wide consultation and reconciliation, we agreed to give the deputy governorship slot to the Turaki faction here in Kano. With this, there is no more faction in Kano PDP. We have reconciled,” he said.
The party also made changes to some of its candidates for the National Assembly and Kano State House of Assembly elections as part of the reconciliation arrangement.
According to Bichi, the adjustments were intended to accommodate members of the different factions and strengthen unity within the Kano chapter ahead of the 2027 polls.
INEC representatives witness exercise
Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present during the replacement process, according to the PDP chairman.
The party said the exercise complied with its internal rules and applicable electoral requirements.
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Abacha’s nomination, however, remains subject to the statutory processes and scrutiny required by the relevant electoral authorities.
Abacha returns to Kano governorship race
The latest development marks another return to the Kano governorship contest for Muhammad Sani Abacha.
He previously contested the 2023 governorship election on the PDP platform and finished third in that election.
His emergence as the PDP’s 2027 candidate follows a period of internal disagreements within the Kano chapter, with the party now presenting the replacement of candidates and allocation of positions as part of a broader reconciliation effort.
The PDP leadership said the changes were aimed at bringing the different groups together as the party prepares for the 2027 governorship election.