The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has adopted Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of former 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.
His emergence followed an expanded meeting of the Kano State PDP executive committee held in Kano on Wednesday, where the party conducted an affirmation and replacement primary.
The state PDP Chairman, Dr Bello Gambo Bichi, said the process was conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and relevant electoral laws.
Bichi explained that Bello Dalha had previously won the party’s governorship primary but later withdrew following consultations involving party 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 during which Abacha 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.
As part of efforts to resolve internal disagreements within the party, the PDP also allocated the deputy governorship slot to the faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
The party subsequently selected former factional chairman and ex-Commissioner for Land and Agriculture, Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya, as Abacha’s running mate.
Bichi said the decision followed consultations and reconciliation efforts among the various groups within the Kano PDP.
He also disclosed that the party replaced some of its National Assembly and State Assembly candidates as part of the reconciliation process.
“Representatives of INEC were present and witnessed the entire exercise,” Bichi said.
The development marks a fresh phase in the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 governorship election in Kano State.
