BY AHMED AKANBI
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, late Gen Sani Abacha, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party said the change followed Dalha’s withdrawal from the race.
The replacement was formalised on Wednesday at an expanded meeting of the State Executive Committee in Kano, where the party held an affirmation and replacement primary.
State Chairman of the party, Bello Gambo Bichi, said the decision followed consultations with stakeholders in Kano and Abuja and was in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
”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 added.
Chairman of the electoral panel, Abba Abdullahi, who declared Abacha winner of the replacement primary, said the exercise complied with party guidelines and applicable electoral regulations and that Abacha met the requirements to contest.
As part of efforts to resolve its internal divisions, the PDP also adjusted its deputy governorship ticket.
Bichi said the deputy governorship slot was conceded to the faction associated with Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, with a former factional chairman and former commissioner for land and agriculture, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, named as the new deputy governorship candidate.
”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, noting that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the exercise.
Bichi further disclosed that the party has changed some of its candidates for National Assembly and State Assembly elections to accommodate members of various factions and promote unity ahead of the 2027 polls.